IfiMT
^ PRINCETON, N. J.
Collection of Puritan Literature.
Section ^f g^— -7 /
Number
Lk.
^
A P p"e A L
C#,SAR:
WHEREIN
GOLD *- SILVER
Is Proved to be the
Kings M a J e ftics
\0 r A.L COMMODITY.
WHICH
By the Lawes of the Kingdpm, no Perfon of what Degree foever,
but th&pNGS MA JESTIE, and his Privy Councel, can give
Licence 'to Tranfport either Gold or Silver to any Perfon, after it
is Landed in any part of the Kingdome of England. That this Great
and Sacred Truft cannot be changed into the Hands of any Perfon,
PerfonSjOr Corporations whatfocver, without changing or diminifli-
ing the Sacred Power of his Majeftie, it being againft his Crown
ana 1 Dignity.
Humbly Preferred to his Moft Sacred MA JESTIE, and his Moft Honourable
Privy Councel, inoppofition to fome Merchants, who are Endeavouring,
upon feigned Pretences, to difpolTeiTe his Majeftie of this Royal Truft, and
to have it Confirmed by Ad of Parliament, to Tranfport at the Merchants
pleafure, Forreign Bullion and Coine freely, after it is Imported into the
Kingdom and make it a Free Merchandize for their private profit, to the
Damage of the whole Kingdom in general.
By THO. ViOLET of London, Goldfmith.
M A T T H. 22. 21. Render therefore unto Cefar the things which are Cefnrs t &c.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1660.
CO #
TO THE
K I N G S
mod Excellent Majeftie:
And to the
LORDS ofhisMAJESTiES moftHonQurable
T%IVY COV^CEL.
The Humble Petition of THo. VIOLET of London, Goldfmith.
Mofi Dread Soveraign!
Your Majefties moft Humble, Loyd and Dutiful SubjetJ,
humbly upon my t\nees prefent this iifuing Narrative to
Your Sacred Ma jefty^and to Your moft honourable andpru*
I dent QouncelL 1 had not prefumed to haVe medkd,
with this caufe and Argument , but that I fee with
what eagemeffe fome Merchants of r London thought to fteal one of
the pi ime Flowers of your Majefties Croton, {from your Sacred Ma-
yfly, and Your moft honourable Privy Councell) before the fifing of
this blejfed Parliament. True it is, Gold and Silver all over tbe~
World is a currant Merchandise, it anjwereth all things , and command*
eth all things under the Sun.
But fo y that in aH Kingdoms , Gold and Silver is a I\in?ly
Merchandise, and only at the things Y)ifpofe and W ill \ and not at
the Jifpofe of the Merchants % to be transported at their plea*
jure. May it pkafe Your Majefty, by Twenty Jtls of (Parliament,
theLawes of this Kingdom of England in all Ages, hath invefted it
Az in
i» f fa wo^ 5Wrfrf Kuufr 0/ f fa /(*«£* °f England, and their Privy
Councel, and mm other (whomfoever, either Lords ; Bijhops, or Com-
mons).
The ^eafons upon perufaO of this Narrative , Tour Majefiy will
find to have been done, upon ?noft wife, jufl y and great consideration y
both for the Honour, Strength, and Defence of the IQngs Sacred
*Ter fitly His Crown 3 and Dignity, and Safetie of the people.
lhe Money, HuHion, Gold and Silver of this Kingdom in all A*
ges, (tiS thefe perillous head*flrong Fanatick dales) ha f h been counted
the chief Strength of the I^ingdom^ the very Soul of the Militia, and
the Sinews of Wane and Peace ) in Your Majefiies moft Sacred
Hands y and in Your Privy Councels , the Latp of this Kingdom
hath inVefted it^ (and in none other of lour Majefties SubjeHs^f Vehat
condition foeVer,)and there let it jajely remain to the end of this
World.
Your Majefties moft humble SubjeSl, upon his bended %nees y prayes
Your Majefiy to hep this Sacred 7ruH intire in Your Hand, and not to
dim'mijh the leaf tittle^ or branch of it.
never fuffer it to be at the will of the Merchant ( leafl Your Ma=
jefty 3 which God defend ,giving fomt fawning (paniels thk Authority y .
06 they defire % out of Your Sacred Hands) You give an oppertunity in
a few years, that the breed of them may turn MifliVes, and fo they
may have a power to fly in the Face of Your Sacfed M.ijefly, as fome
of them did to Your Majefiies <Roy all Father of blefled memory, "tohich
God defend; Fore*warn'd 3 Fore-arm'd : I humbly think I defer-
Ved not to live, fhould 1 not fay this.
The Gold and Silver of the Nation, either Forreign Coyne , or
Ingot, or the currant Coin of the IQngdom, is the foul of the Militia ,
andfo aU wife men know it^ that thofe that command the Gold and Sil-
ver of the Kingdom jhther Co'mpr BuUion, to have it free at their dip
pofal
pofgll to be Judges of the convemency and inconveniency, or to hinder y or
friye leave to tranfport Gold and Silver at the ir pleafure, is the great
Wbetttif the State, a mojl ^oyall Prerogative inherent in Your Ma-
jefty, Your Heirs and Succeffors,{and none other whomsoever, But by
Your Maje/lies Licence, and cannot he parted with to any Verfonsjbut
by Your Majefties mojl efpeciaU Grant your Majefty, and your (Pri«
Vy Councell being by the Law the only proper Judges y to have liberty
to fend to your Friends the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom*
Upon fuch juji (%eafons of State, as your Majefty, and ^rivy
Councell frail judg fit for the due relief of your Friends, and Allies,
to offend your Enemy, and defend your ImperiaO Crown, and Dignity ,
and flreyigtkn your Friends.
AsQueenKLiTAKZTU fever all times affifted HENRY the
Great Kjngof France, your Majefties (Royatt Grandfather j and the
States of Holland, Kith vafl fums of Gold an£Sil<ver.
The Ike fyy all prerogative is in the Qrown } upon Petition of the
Merchants ^ jetting forth their juft%eafons % and at your pleafure your
Majejly to give them leave to fend Forrei^nGold and Silver either to
the Indies, or any part of Qhriflendom . but fo as pur Majejly,
as all your Qpyall Tredeceftors, and your Trivy Qouncell being in
Commiffion hy your MajeHy for that fervice, are the only proper Judg-
es of this bujinefje, and have the Lock and £\ey to difpence *toith the
penall Statutes, to give leave tojend (amuck Gold and Silver of For*
reign Bullion, or the Com of the Kjngdom, asyour Maje/ly Jhall pleafe
in your wijdmnfor togrant^ and to what Tr'nice^er Country, but not at
the Kill of any other Terfon "tobomfoever .
Your ^Petitioner humbly prayes upon my %nees, for your Majefties
honor t f$r yourMaje sites fafety, for thefafety andgreatnefe of all your
Lords end Gentry, for thefifety ofattyourfeople y that your Majesly
hep tbiiltyyallTruJl intire,%ndtht)\mi always in your Majejly, and
A 3 you?
- (a)
your mojl honourable frivy CounceU bands, tu the Apftll of your Eye.
Gold and Silver is a Merchandise all over the World Jrue^ut in King-
doms it is a Kingly Merchandise^ and not to be tranfported without the
Kjngs leave. What I hear fay y I upon my Kjim fubmk 4q your
Sacred Wlajefties confiderati°n 1
Novctnb. 2.8. 1660. (and frail pray^c)
To the Right Honourable, the Lord High
Chancellour of England, the Lord Steward
of his M A * EST|E s Houlriold, the Lord Hi^h
Treafurer of England, the Lord %oberts, all
of his Maie sties moll Honourable Privie
Councell, Thefe humbly prefent.
May it pteafejotir Lordjhips>
Humbly prefumc for to Acquaint your Lordfhips,
that I underftand fomc Merchants of London^xc en-
deavouring to obtain an Act of Parliament, to
make Gold and Silver a Merchandize, to tranf*
port freely at their will and plea fure, as it is at this
-X day ztAmfterdAm, and feveral other Common-
ly? wealths in chrislendome.
My Lords , I am none of the Councel or Committee for Trade, and {^sfiV* n ° c
fo it may be prcfumprion in me to intermeddle, to fay any thing in this LordniiJ™!
bufinefle •, but my Lords, a Stander by may fee more in the Game then h »»e it at
the Gamefters : I am no Lawyer, yet I humblie fay, I know this point^-f^^
concerning the giving libcrtie to Merchants to tranfport money, andbwiiiope i
what the damage may be to his Majeftie, to his Lords of the Councel, {hallnot nced
and to the Kingdom in general, as well as many others that are in [his'taKfe*
Commiifion for the Regulating of Trade. toftopir.
My Lords , I have bin writing on this Argument above this moneth,
and mall be ready to prefent to his Majeftie, and his Privie Councel
(within this week J a Paper that (hall unfold the many raiichiefs and
dangers the Merchants would expofe the King and the Kingdom into,
had they this Power in their hands .• the Merchants fliould" they obtain
this their defire, and remove this Truft out of his Majeftie and his Pi ivy
CouncclsHands,tobetheon!y Iudges, to give leave to Merchants to
tranfport Gold and Silver, would rcb the King of oneofhisgreatcft
Prerogatives, and Flowers of the Crown, which by twenty Acts of
Parliament and Proclamations, is only inverted in the Kings Majeftie,
and his Privy Connccl ; the granting the Merchants this Power, will
bring
(6)
bring an hundred inconveniences andmifchiefs to the King, Nobility,
and Gentry, as I have at large to (hew your Lordfhips and the Privy
Councel, and if Idonotfatisfie his Majeftie, your Lordihips,and all
his Privic Councel, of this that I (ay to be true, never let me have
your Lordfhips good opinion, that I am either an honcft man, or one
that loves the Kings Safetie, Honour, and GreatnefTc, and the Hoaour
of his Privy Councel.
And therefore my mod Humble Suit is to your Lordihip, (my Lord
ChancellouO that if this bufineffe be called on at the Councel of
Trade, and your Lordihip be prefent there this day, aslhear you in-
tend to be purpoteiy about this bufinefTe, that your Lord (hip Would be
plcafcd, either to put offthis bulinelfe for to have it argued before the
Kings Majeftie, or his Privie Councel at Whitehall fometime next week,
in the mean time I mall be ready to mew toyour Lordihip and the Pri*
vy Councel, that it concerns his M ijeftie next to the Militia, to conti-
nue and keep this great Truft in his Majcfties Sacred hands, and in the
Power of his Privie Councel, and no other perfon by the Law, can
or ought to have the Priviledge, to give leave to tranfport Gold and
Silver at their pleafure, this being the foul of the Militia, rhcy that
have the money and the Peoples purfes, have virtually the Command
in all Common- wealths of the Government 5 let who will have the
Title, the Bankers have the power $ and this priviledge is no where
granted, but in Commonwealths, God defend England from the very
name of a Commonwealth, for the Tragedies which were lately a&ed
by fome Merchants in England.
When we had no King in this our Ifrael, they have robbed the King-
dome of all the Gold, aud fo now would work iniquity by a Law •, but
by Gods Afliftance, I will ditf eft them, and lay the danger open to his
Majeftie, your Lordihip, and the Kings mod Honourable Privie Coun-
cel, and ftand or fail by your righteous Judgement, humbly praying
for his Majefties Safety, Honour and Service, thatnofurtner proceed-
ing in this great bufineife be argued, but before his Majeftie, and his
moil prudent Privie Councel, within letfe then a week I ihall be ready
with my Reafons for what I fay, to fhew your Lord ihip, that fo all the
Lovers of the King might be fatisfied of the Damage and Danger of
removing this great Truft, out of hisMajefties and his Privy Councels
Hands. So I humbly reft
N0vemh.2j.166o, Your Lordihips Humble Servant
THO. VIOLET.
(7)
for the tight Honourable the L07(D CHANCELLOU%
May itpkafe your Lord/hip to give Order , That m further proceedings in
this buftnefsitMt before[His Majefty and fits VrivyCouncil <tf White-hall;
and if Bis Majefty and Privy Council giva judgement again ft what I (ay to
be true , lvfill loft my life, when they hear this bufinefs examiued.
WHcrcas the Merchants of London are endeavouring to get an
Aft of Parliaments have liberty to export Gold and Sil-
ver freely without the Kings majefties and his moft Honou-
rable Privy Councils leave, I humbly propound, for His Majefties fer*
vice and the fafety ,and honour of his Majefty, that thefe humble Propo-
fals might be confidered of* before any further proceedings on that b'jfi»
nefs be made. That his Ma/efty and his honourable Privy Council be
pleafed to keep in tire in their own hands the Licencing of all Gold and
Silver after it is imported into this Kingdom, to be exported or Coined,
as they (hall fee juft caufe, for the fafety of the Nation, and fafety and
honour of his Majefty and the Lords of his Council, and the fafety and
benefit of all his Majefties Subjefts of what condition foevcr ; and be,.
ing fctled in the Crown fo many hundred years by Afts of Parliament
as I fhall prove it, this great and Sacred truft be no way aliered, especi-
ally at this Junfture of time, this Kingdom being robbed of almoft all
its Gold and a great pait of the Silver Coin, for the private profit of
particular perfons, to the weakning of the Nation and the destruction
of. Tradc-,this Royal truft being one of the prime flowers of the Crown,
" and the very foul of the Militia, and it a right inherent onely in die
King and his Privy Council, and there onely depofitcd for many hun-
dreds of Years;whereby the King(only)by the Law can give leave and
licence to tranfport Gold and Silver after it is imported into the King-
dom ) and that if you ever fuffer this Roial truft to be managed by the
Merchant, and fuffer all perfons by Aft of Pailiament to be free to
tranfport Gold or Silver, either in Coin or Bullion, after it is imported
and landed in England.
You take a way one of the principal Prerogatives and flowers of the
Crown, deftroying his Majefties Mint in the Tower of London, and
B lay
■ -—- — ' 1
[9]
lay a fad foundation to give fome factious Merchants of this Kingdom
a ground to make new disturbances, and leave the Nation weak and na-
ked of all Gold and Silver.
The granting the Merchants this power they defirc, will bring a thou-
fand raifchiefs both on the King and Kingdom, which God defend. In
all ages, till thefe Phanatickdaics, the Gold and Silver after it w us
landed in the Kingdom, was held the Blood and Sinews of War and
Peace 5 the Militia and ftrength of the Kingdom,
I (hall humbly prefent unro you thefe following Reafons for keeping
this power intire in you. Majcfty and Privy Council,and rheKing,Lords,
and Commons cannot be fafc to fufFer any other perfon , upon any pre.
tence whatfoever of the Crafty Merchant, to havethe dt r pofalsat their
will, and for their private lucre to havethe power by Aclof Parlia-
ment, to tranfport Gold or Silver either to the Indies^ot other forraign
Countries, or to any part of Chriftendom.
Without yourMajcfties licence and order to take an exaft account of
what quantity of Gold or Silver is tranfported, to what Country, the
Ship, with the Ships mafters name, either to the Indies ^x any forraign
Princes Country in Chriftendom, or to any State, or Common wealth ?
that fo upon reafons of State, they may cither inlarg his Licences to the
Merchant , or ftraighten them according as the King and his Privy
Council in their great wifdom (hall think fit.
Your Majeftyaad Privy Council ever having regard chat the King-
dome have alwayesfuch plenty of Gold and Silver as may be for the
honour of the King,and fafety of the p:ople, and to maintain Trade and
Comerceinthe Kingdom, to pay Rents, Cuftoms,Excife,and Subfidies,
to be a ftrength and an honour to the Kingdom, and the King and his
Privy Council to take the care to hinder Gold and Silver to be tranf-
ported to the Kings enemies.
And of all and every part of thefe Heads aridBranches,and real Prero-
gatives; in all Ages the King \ and Rone but the King , and his Privy
Conncil,by Acls of Parliament , are the onely proper Iudges at their
will , difcrction and pleafure, for the fafety of the Kingdom , and
no other perfon whatfoever.
Upon the feveralReafons of the Merchants to hhMajefty and his pri-
vy Council, and upon their petition and requeft.the King can difpence
with the penalty of the Law, and give the Merchant licence to tranf-
port onely f uch quantities of Gold or Silver, cither forraign Coin or
Ingots, or the currant Coin of the Kiagdom,either in G old or silver, as
the
the King and his privy Council (hall think fit, for to carry on the Mer-
chants trade in Chriftendom, and out or Chriftendom, to ftrcngthen his
Majeftie$fricnds,and offend his foes^and this is an undoubted right of his
Majefties Crown, and cannot be difpenced with, or dcpofited into the
Merchants hands, or any ether Subjects, cither Lords fpiritual or tem-
poral, but to the d i (honour of his Ma/efty and all the good people of
the Kingdom , I do humbly prove it true for thefc Reafons follow-
ing.
If any perfon.of what degree foever,tranfport Gold or Silver without
the Kings licence, the Laws and Statutes heretofore hath made it Felo-
ny , both for Bifhops, Noblemen, or Commons, as I fhall fhew by the
St atutcs hereafter following, afterwards a praemunire, and at this day
forfeiture and imprifonmtnt during the Kings pleafure, viz,. 9 Edward
2. 2 Henry 4, cap. 4, 2 Henry 6, cap. 6. 18. Edrv. 4, iHenry%. 5 and 6
ofEdxv. 6.
When the Kings Majefty hath War with 3ny Prince, by the Law
the King may prohibit the Merchant to expo: t Corn, Armes, Ammu?
nitiontotlicm, or any other Commodities: the Law provides the pro-
hibiting the exportation of Wool, Fullers earth, and Timber, as be-
ing deftruclive to the Nation.
Gold and Silver by the Law is free for any man to import, at what
place he pleafe to land 1% without paying any Duty or Cuftomc, the
rcafon w hereof is, that the Merchant is obliged to Coin it, and upon the
Coinage the King hath his duty paid,but once being Ianded,it cannot be
tranfported but with leave from his y^ajefty, or the forfeiture being ta*
ken, and the party claiming the Gold and Silver fo taken on fhipboard,
to be committed to prifon without Bail, till the King or his privy Coun-
cil plea!e to difchargc him: This is the Law, this the Cuftome,bcforc
thtit mad Pharatick daies that we had no King in ifratl.
And this in all Ages was the practice both in your Exchequer and the
Star ch^mber,foror.herwifetheMerchant,for his private profit would
fend all the Gold and Silver out of the Narion,aud make the Kings pro-
datnation wait upon the Merchants [Exchange, as at this day it is with
the Gold.- The Merchants and fome Goldfniths have railed Golda-
bovefhe Kings proclamation: may it pleafe your Majefty, we want a
r o pun; (lube m. I humbly leave it to confi 'er;.tion, no
Gold to be had under one flullirg fix pence in twenty (hillings, more
then Giver j I humbly pray an Aft might pafs thisptefcm Parliament
ac air ft i his at ufc of the GoldCoin, and feveral other abufes and cheats
B 2 pur
put on the Nobility and Gentry by the adulterating aod nndue making
Gold andSilver Lace in L W^,whercby the wearers arc daily cozened
by courfe flight adulterate Gold and Silvcr,and by putting a flight body
or Silver on a great thrccd of filk,to the damage of this Nation, above
fifty thoufand pound a year, as I will prove it to your Majcfty
and your Privy Council-, and this is done for want of a Regulation
of the Work- matters andWorkmen \TsLwdon that makcGold and Silver
Lace, without an Eftay, or Finene(fe,or proportion of Silver to Silk.
I humbly defire your Lordfhips to confider what a iofs the King will
have in his Cuftomes, to fuffer Gold and Silver to be exported at the
pleafurc of the Merchant, and pay no Cuflome; here will be, for the
prefit of particular vf/crchants, a Trade driven both inwards and out-
wards, and the King have neither Excife nor -Cuftomc •, for all the
World knows, Gold and filver payes no duty inwards , it is free to be
imported at the plcafure of the itferchanr, when and how, and where
he pleafe, for the reafons abovefaid :
And if you give the Merchant leave to tranfport the Gold and Silver
freely he imports, what is the King the better by this Trade of the Mer-
chants, either inwards or outwards f let this be granted to the Mer-
chants,to fend out Silver and Gold freely,for their private profit,and in a
few years they will leave neither Gold nor Silver in the Nation.
May it pleafe your Majefty, It is profit that is fomc Merchants guide,
not honour, nor the fafety of the Nation, and this is raoft apparent by
fome mens actions and demands, touching this great bufineiTe- The
King will lofe in pointof His Excife, and Cuftoms, for if the Merchant
invefthis Silver and Gold in Merchaodies, the King hath thereby His
Excife and Cuftoms : the King will lofe in point of His Mintage; if no
money be coyncd,no profit by coynage.-jhis hath made the Minr, a great-
part of their Work-houfes fall down: It is for the Kings honour to have
His Kingdoms full of Gold and Silver, for His, and the Subjects de-
fence.
And if this Fanatick pr«je& fhould take, the King Iofcsoneof the
principal prerogatives of His Crown, and Dignity; for thofe that have
the command of the peoples purfes, have the principal pare of the Mi.
litia.
This is a Common-wealth trick, but tends to the undoing of a King,
in all Countries where the Merchants can fet up a banck, and tranfport
money freely, as at 4mfterdam, have notthefe men the command of the
Millth^ they are the peoplesPrinces, and virtually theBanckers have the
power
firj
power, riches, and ftrength of the Common- wealth, let who will h?vc
the Title, the Prince of Orange, and the Duke of Venice^ &c* but the
Banker , and the hogan mogan Merchants have the power.
The reafon is clear, they have got the people by the money ,and leave
them nothing but fome Stivers, and bafe money to buy victuals 5 and
indeed the people have nothing but a paper credit-, in a Kingdome the
Merchants will never put up a banck, lead the King mould leize on it
all, they will not allow a King to do that they practice.
And I humbly fay, it is not for the fafety of the King, nor Lords, to
ler the Merchants have liberty to tranfport Silver or Gold at their plea-
fure,to forreign Bancks, and Common- wealths , leaft the Merchants in a
year or two put the fame tack on the King, and Kingdom, for all their
current Silver, as at this day they have done for all the Gold of the Na-
tion. Let the greatnclTe of the Merchant be as a Hand- maid to the
Kings greatnetfe, and everfubordinatc to the King.
Or elfe a confederation of twenty Merchants and Goldfmiths, (hall
make the Englifh fhi!ling,in fpitc of the Kings Proclamation,and againft
His Ctown, and Dignity, and in defpite of an A$ of Parliament, to g o
fori3 # d. every Englifh (hilling^wen-ty (hillings, for twenty one (hil-
lings eight pence- let but the Merchants make Silver a Merchandize,
as the Goldfmiths and Merchants have already done Gold.
I befcechyourMajeftyto obfervyourRoyal Father of bleiTed memcy,
never did by His froclamation, or at his Mint in the Towtr^ raife the
Gold coined at above twenty (hillings a peecc in paymentDoth not the
Statute 5 .and 6. of F dw. the fixth,make it forfeiture of the value,for any
perfon whomfoev^r, to utter, or put off Gold or Silver money at above
the Kin^s Proclamation, and imprifonment during the Kings pleafure?
Do not above- ten P reclamations fay the fame * this is the known Law.
Yet at this day, by the confederation of fome Merchants and Gold-
fmiths, in fpitecf this Law and Proclamations, for the Merchants and
Goldfmiths private profir, the'eumm Gold is not by any perfon to be
had.atwenty (hi'Iingpceceunder 2i.s.4.d. 21.S. 6.d. 2i,s.8.d.
Your Majefty fliall receive a hundred thoufand pounds in Silver, and
no: have a twenty (hilling pecce in Gold in a payment in the Exchequer.
What is the reaicm the Merchants and Goldfmiths have made it a Mcr«
chandiz^they have againft your Majcftics Lawes/to your weakning ,
and difhononr, and againft your Majcfties Imperial Crown, and Digni*
»jk robbed You, and the Kingdom, of all th:Gold; broke your Royal
Statutes and P reclamations, beggered your Majeftics Mint.
B 3 And
(12)
And thele very men that have thus abufed your M jjefty, after all this
iiccncioufnefTc, arefo boldtodcfiretoltcal one of the prime Floweis
out of yourMajefties Crown.
Which is by having an Aft of P arliament,that they might freely, and
at their will tranfportGold and Silver,at their pleafure-,they will ( if they
could get this great power into their hands J leave neither Gold norSilver
in the Nation, but Ijghtand clip'd money, groats, ninepences,and thir-
teenpcnce-halfpennies-,letthis be but taken notice of,how-tbeMerchams
have robbed your Royal Father, your Majtfly, and the whole Kingdom,
of the currant Gold of the Nation.
And then I humbly leave it to yourMajcflies wifdom to confider
what a project this is, tending to the weakning of your Majcfty. and
Kingdom.
Thcfc mcu that have tranfporred the Gold and Silver of the King.
domalreacy,withoutyour Majcfiies leave, and againft the Law, arc
grown monftrous rich many of them by tnnfporting all the Gold
of the Natron, and moft of the Silver.
And now their riches makes them Co bold, thinking to bribe out all
bufineiTe,as formerly they did in the Rump P ariiamem. they would work
iniquity by a Law, if your Sacred Majefty, or your privy Counccllors
fhould ever permit them, to the mine and damage of the whole
Kingdom, to gratify the greedy avarice of fome Merchants, whofe co-
vetoufnefTe. will never be fatisfied; gain is their godlmeiTe,and not god •
lineflfe their gain.
May itpleafeyour Majefty, your Royall Grandfather, and father,
King James and King C h a r l e s of blefTed memory, gave a flop
tothismifchief of tranfporting Gold, by bringing fome of the Mer-
chants of London, duttunfported Gold and Silver into forreign parts,
into the Star Chamber in the years 1619. S\t Willim Carune y Sir: Peter
V&nlor, Mr. DeUbxr y Sir Mofis Trian,znd fome t wenty more were fined in
the Star Chamber at near two hundred thoufand pounds, and paid King
James into his Exchequer, for their compofition, about one hundred
thoufand pounds5this fentencegave a (top to the tra reporters ofGold,and
uponth4s fentence, flior'ly after the Mint fiourifhed.
Your Ma jefties Royal Father,in the year 1655. King Charles of
blefTed memory, commanded meyour Mjjefties Humble and Loyall
Subject, to dilcover all fuch as tranfported Gold or Stiver without His
leave. I have the Kings Majefties Gracious Letter ro me of thanks for
my good and acceptable Service, under His Majefties Royal Hand and
Signet
C'5] r
Signet, for difcovcrng the tnnfponcis of Gold and sih er, which Let-
ter I have tcady to produce to your Sacred Majefty. J caufed the tran(-
porters of Gold at my own charge to be fined 241 00 pounds, I caufed *-^JJ5*"* i
uponcommand of his late Majefty to be filed in the Exchequer in troughcm er o«r
164.8, as will appear on Record at this day , above a hun- K'scommiS
dredfeveral informations againft the Tranfporters of Gold and $tf vctj JJSS3?HSc
at my charge many hundred pounds, I know the men and their inftru porters of ooid
J ... ' 11 ti -l^« 3 r \ i ■» in the Exchequer.
ments at this day as well as I know my right hand from my left. I cau- NotwUhttanding
fed an exceptions have all the Tranfporters of Gold excepted out of ^USaSSSm
the general pardon granted by the Parliament in the year 1651, atfwill %%*£%£
appear in the A&, I put in an exception to have had it -excepted in his p°« e yo f gow
Majefties general pardon 1660, but there was fo many guilty pcrfons mJIrt hma *
that had tranf ported Gold and Silver out of the Kingdom , that I could £ ofp«iSJ"
not get it pit into theBill GO have thefc offences cxcepted,vvhcreby your ^^^'
Majefty loft one hundred thoufand pounds, had 1 got it excepted out of eftatesiu cow,
yourMajefties pardon,there was above an hundred Merchants andGokf SSi
fmiths that I have proof againft,for tranfportingGold andsilver 3 and rob- "^opiS
bing thcKingdom of Millions of moneyjf your Majefty pleafe,! wi! give J^^x^S
y 3br Privy Council a perfect lift of their Nameswho tranfportcd Gold $c° ' e ' r "* "**
Silyer,that (liquid haye paid your A/a jefty one hundred thoufan i pounds,
andthankGod they efcaped !o too^I have all the charge againft them/and
the informations in the Exchequer is now on Record, and informations
filed, to the juft value of fix hundred and fifty thoufand pounds.
This bufinefs I afted, by command of his late Majefty of blefTed
memory, and did lay out of my Purie the fum of nineteen hundred and
fixty pounds in difcovery of the tranfporters of Gold in one thoufand
fix hu-ndred thirty fix , and had Rot your Majefty pardoned the offen-
ders, I would not for my fhave have taken twenty thoufaud pounds of
them.
I have it under your Majefties RoyalFathers hand and fignetfromOx-
ford, that he would pay me for my great good and acceptable fet vice in
difcovering the tranfpoitcrs of Gold.
This true account I humbly give your Majefty, to (hew there is no
man in the Kingdom candifcover the tranfporters of Gold fo well as
my felf -, I know them as well as the Beggar knows his Dim , and this
is done by intelligence.
I was for feven years commanded by his late Ma/cfty to give a flop to
the tranfporring of Gold and Silver, and I did effect it, as appears by
your Royal Fathers Letter, ready to be produced to your Majefty.
Here
(H)
Merc followethy our Ma/cfties Royal Fathers Letter verbatim,
viz..
Charles R.
TtRuflie and Wel-beloVed, We Greet you Veil. Whereas WehaVe
formerly imployed you for the DtfcoVerie of all juch as Tranf-
ported Gold and Silver Coin beyond the Seas , and aUfuch likemfe who
contrarie to the Lams, and for their o^n private gain, have melted
downgreat quantities of Silver - } Wherein Wcackno^ledg you dtdUs
good and acceptable ferVice,for which (when God fh all enable Ms) We
do hereby promife to give you full fatisfatlion. And for that We
mkrftand that you are preffed by Our Ttoo Houfes of Parliament to
proceed in the [aid Difcoverie, We do hereby jlrtBly Command you that
you intermeddle no further therein, without Our fecial Vireclion, M
yu will anfwrr the contrarie at your peril. And for fo doing, thisfhdl
bee your fufficient Warrant. Given at Our Court at Oxford,
the nineteenth day of November \6^\\n the nineteenth year of Our
^eign, <src.
By His Ma/'emYs Command,
Gi ORGE DlQBlE.
ToOurTruftic and WcH-beloved ThmasVitUt Goldfraith io London.
If your Majeftie will be pleafcd ac this time to command me to Catch
thefe Moles that work underground, the Tranfporters of Gold and Sil-
ver, and will Gtacioufly Impowcr me with a Commiflion, and War-
rants to do the fame, I will undertake to fee your Majefties Mint on
work again, and flop the Tranfporting of Gold and Silver.
Vaft (urns of Mony is Tranfported daily, both Gold andSilver, which,
if not in time prevented by your Majeftie, and your Majeftics Hono-
rable, and Prudent Councel, will weaken, and deftroy your Majeftie 4 and
the Nobility ,and the Commonalty in generaI,to make a few Merchants.
If it be your Majefties, and the Lords of your Councels plcafure, to
impowcr me to do it, I will (by Gods afliftance; remove the obftrufti-
ons ©f the Mint .
May it pleafe your Majeftie, I (hall humbly defire, before any further
progrefte of this bufineffe be made,concerningthe giving the Merchants
leave to tranfport Gold or Silver. That by your Majefties erpecial Com-
mand, a fcleft Committeeof Merchants may meet, with fome of the
Officers of your Majefties Mint,and my felf,and that we may be order-
ed to nuke a true Calculation of all Forrcign Coins, both Gold and
Silver, what every Coin will make, being its full weight, in the Tatver of
London^ that wc fend for over from beyond the Seas Placcarts,Edicts,.
and Proclamations, of Forreign Countries-, And that a jury of Artcfts
be commanded upon Oath, to make a true Report how they find Gold
and Sih'er ever valurd in other Countries, ~nd report as neer as they can
the/uft and true Standard in Forreign Mints,\vhat proportion they hold
po the Mint of theTaryer of LandonWhcn this is done,to confider of what
waies and means they ufc to keep their Mints on work,that fuch waics as
may be advantageous for fetting your Majefties Mintoo work, may be
obfcrved to prevent former abufes. That the waies and means how thefe
Differences, Standards, may be rectified bcydfid Seas, and all Standards
.•reduced toa pair, andequalitie with England , and this Miftctie un«
foulded truly to your Majeftie after the eflay by fire and water.
And fo when this bufineffe, which is very weights, is truly, and
rightly flared by the Eflay, Finenefle, and Weight, and is ftriclly, and
exactly ftated to your Majeftie, and your Privy Councri, then may it
pleafe your Majeftie, by, and with the advice of your Privy Councel,
fuch waies may be concluded on, as your Majeftie in your great wifdora
with advice of your Privy Council (hall /'udgebeft for your icrvice.
They being truly informed both by your judicious Merchants, and
the Warden, Maflcr, and Comptroller of the Mint,being afliftcd with a
C Jury
Jurie of Arreft to make Effay upon Oath. By this way 1 humbly fay> the
whole truth of this bufineffe will be found out.
The Law faith that Gold, 3«d Silver, and Corne, and a mans Houfe
is every mans own, to have a propriety in k to makeufeof between
party and party, but not to deft roy the propiiery^ but he is finable by
theLaw.-a man cannot lawfully burn hisownHonfe,bumhisownCorne,
Tranfport his own money, but it is rlmblc-, and this was ufed in the Star
Chamber by the Atturny Banks, and the King's Councel at Law, as an
Argument againft the i'franfportcrs of Gold, in the Twelfth year of
King Charles in the Star Chamber, when I profecuted the Tranf/
porters of- Gold and Silver, by command of tnc late Kmg Charles.
I had disburfed in caufrng the Tranfporters of Gold and Silver to be
fined in the Star Chamber 24:00!. at my charge 1 950I and never as yet
had penny for that fcivice. This very (cnter.ee kept the Gold and Sil-
ver in the Nation, till the beginning of the late War 1643. F° r which '
Service your Royal Father gave me thanks as aforefaid, but as yet never
had penny of Money for doing that Service.
May it pleafc your Majeftie, wbofoever goes about to tike the prero-
gative out of your Majefties, aad your Privy Councels hands, of bin-
Sring theTranfportirg Gold and Silver without your Majefties licence;
I humbly fay ids a Jesuitical-, Fanatkk defign, under the fpecions pre-
tence of Freedom of Trade,to rob your Majcftie.and your Privy Coun-
cel, of the priviledg of keeping in the Treamre, and Wealth of this
Kingdom, weakningyour Majfftie, and your Privy Councel, and your
Royal Prerogative, leaving the Wealth, and Treafure of this Kingdom,
in Gold and Silver, to be guided by the covetous defire of forec Mei-
ehams,many of them care not two pence for the C^tty of the Common-
wealth, fo they, and their private Families grow rich. I humbly fay it is
a prefunaptuous motioirdTfbme hor headed Merchants, that would by
crafty and fly pretences rob your Majeftie of tivat which is next tp the
Militia of the Kingdom, nay, it ts the very foul of the Militia, Gol I a id
Silvcr«get to be Matter ah that, any man may get Shipping, Armes, Mo-
ney, and any thing to make a difturbance in the Kingdom.
We lately fee upon what fli'e pretences the Sword was wrung out of
your Majefties Royal Fathers Hands j he chat caft his eye upon any of
the Flowers of your Majefttes Imperial Crown, with intent to take
them out eithtr by fraud or force, let them fall as Cerah, Dithan and a-
biram, and let their end be like Acbit^htls^ who leek to robyour Royal
Majeftie of this your juft Prerogative.
And
And this 1 here humbly fay,l will wkh my life maintain before your
Majeftic,and your Privy Counccl, and the Parliament or Committee of
Trade: And thefe following Statutes, Lawesand Proclamations ar«
my Protection, and Warrant for what I humbly fay.
1. A Proclamation againfl giving far Gold, "more then it is currant.
ai. July. 1 7. Jacob.
2. A Proclamation agafoB melting, and culling heavy Extglijb Money,
i8«May.p.Jjcob.
3. A Proclamation againfl buying and felling. Gold and Silver at high-
er Prifes then the Minu 1 4.May. 1 Jacob.
4. A Proclamation againfl Tranfporting of Gold, 2 3. May 1. Ja>*
cob.
J. Kyi Proclamation againfl Profi it for Gold and Silver 5 And melting
Englifh UMGney. t^tnd to prevent the abufts and praft, in making Gold
and Silver Thrced, and Laces. 4.F«b.3.Caroli.
6. A frocLimation againfl Tranfporting Gold and Silver^ and melting
down the Currant Silver Coins of the Nation, for Plate, or Gold, or Silver
Threed. 15. May. 3. Carol us.
May it pleafc your Majeftie, to obferve with what care the wifdom
of former Parliaments intruded the Kings of England, and their Privy
Councel, to keep can-full watch that the Gold and Silver once import-
ed into this Nacion, ihould be converted into Coin, for the Strength
and Honour of the Kingdom? thatthofc that did Tranfport Gold and
Silver without the King's Licence, were Felons. And in the Tryali in
the Star- Chamber, n.Cdroli Primi, which I followed by Order of his
late Majeftie of blcffed memory. The A tturney- General Banks,znd the
King'sCouncel,read mmy Prefidents,whcrein the Tranfporters of Gold
and Silver had judgment, and fufFercd execution of death, as
Felons.
Your Mijeftie will finde tranfporting Gold or Silver without the
Kings licence to be Felony, and by feveral A&s of Parliament, 17 Edtv.
the 4, and the 4 Henry, cap. 1 3 , And I humbly conceive the Kingdom
isinasgrcatfearcityof Gold and Silver now as it was then, foral-
moft -».}! the Cold and Silver is tranfported without the Kings-licence by
the difturbancc of the late War, andnow fome Merchants aregrown
fopr:fumptuou5,thatthcy would have an Ad of Parliament to make k
to b- at the will of theMerchants Co tranfport what Gold oriilvei freely
they pleafc without licence from the King, it were bctterior the King-
dom that thefe that go about to take this prerogative from the King,
C2 were
(is;
were blind, rather then the reft of the Kingdom fhould ever fee that
day thefe Merchants fhould have their will, Stat. 9 . Edw. the 3. againft
thetranrportingofGoldor Silver without the Kings licence, or the
melting down the currant filver coin by Goldfmiths or others into plate
Stat.z.Hen. 4.^.4,
Noperfonoughitoprefumeto^rranfport Gold or Silver either in
coin or bulion, upon pain of forfeiture of as much as they might,which
I take to be lives and eftates.
a Henry 6. cap. 6. Upon a grievous complaint made in Parliament,
That great fums of gold and filver was transported without the. Kings li-
cence out of this Kingdom, it was ordered and enacted , That no gold,
or filver fhould be tranfported out of the Realm , and becaufe it is fup-
pofed the gold and filver isxranfpo rted by Merchant aliens, it is order-
ed, That the Mercheant aliens mall find fecurity in the Chancery thai
ihey fhall not tranfport the gold or filver monies out of the Kingdom
upon pain of forfeiture of the fum or value, and if any do contrary and
that duly proved, his pledges fhall pay the forfeiture, though the Mer-
chant ftranger be gone beyond the Seas : If this Law had been put in ex,
ecutionthislaft twenty years, the Kingdom had had millions of gold
and filver, which it is now robbed of. and the offenders are now grown
fo impudent to hope to get an Ad: of Parliament to rob the kingdom of
all the gold and filver, as the greedy Merchant fhall find and fee his op-
portunity to fend away what gold and filver they pleafe, without the
Kings majefty or his privy Councils licence for the future.
18 Edw. the4. No pcrfon to carry gold or filver, or jewels out of the
kingdom upon pain of Felony.
l Henry the 8.*j/>. 13. An Acl made that whofocver fh »ll carry any
gold or filver out of the Realm without the Kings licence, fhall forfeit
double the value.
The 5th. and 6th. of Edward the e>th. cap. 16. An h& touching the
exchange of gold or filver, that whofoever gave more for gold or fil-
ver, then it is or fhall be declared by the Kings Proclamation, fhall fuf-
ferimprifonmentforthefpaceof a year, and make fine at the Kings
pleafure, the one moity to his Majefty, and the other moity to the Par-
tie, that fhall feizc the fame , or will fuc for it by the Bill of infor*
mation $ were the Gold-fmiths of London fued on this Statute it would
ruine moft of them. Had not the Aft of Oblivion pardoned them,
but that gives them no licence or protection now at this day to acl as
they do, to fell gold for Zi and 22, fhiliings for a Twenty milling peice.
Till
09)
Till this be remedied ardihe rule for the price of gold fet by your
Majcftie, the Mine will never coin gold to any confidcrable quan-
tity.
If this defire of the Merchants fhould go on, the Kingdom of England
which in all Kings raigns abounded with gold and filver, and famous
for their pound fterlings, the true guide and meafurc of our monies will
be puttoufe the Rooking tricks of the Bankers of Amfterdam, and other
Commonwealths.
Feed the people wr.h a paper credit and the Merchants have all the
peoples money ; I befcech your Majefty to confider of this monftrous
defign and propofals of the Merchants,fhould by your Majefty be gran-
ted, which God defend, in whole hands your Majefty difpofcth the Mi-
litia of the kingdom, even truly your Majefty would furrendcr rhe Mili-
tia of the kingorri into the Merchants power.
To fend away all the treafure of the kingdom, by which means,
they will fo fettef and impoverifh the people of the kingdom, that
when your Ma/eft ies loving Subjects would give you aid by confentof
Parliament, they have no monies to do it but at the Merchants plea-
fure, who will be the onely Judges of the price they fhall pay by ex-
changing, and the quantity in coin they will pleafe to let the peo-
ple have.
Should the Parliament now grant your Majefty a paimentof a hun«
dred thoufand pounds in coined Eng lifh gold , at twenty millings the
pcice of gold, according to the Lawes and Statutes and your royal Fa-
thers Proclamation, which forbids all either Forrcigncrs or Natives
whomfocver, to pay, give, or utter the currant coins of gold or filver
at above the Kings proclamation, upon pain of forfeiture and imprifon*
ment during the tfings pleasure. See the Statute law 5, 6, Edward 6.
Yet for all your Afaicfties lawes and proclamations, your ytfaiefty nor
the Parliament ftall not receive a hundred thoufand pounds in gold or a '
hundred pound, but at the Merchants price , viz,. 21 fhill. 4 pence, 2 1
mill. 6 pence, 2 1 fhill. 8 pence, 22 (hill, for a twenty {hillings piece ef
gold. This is done in contempt of your Ma/'efty and the law,becaufe the
Merchants have got all the coined gold into their hands, and transport-
ed it to forraign parts, and they will not let it come back again but at
their pleafure and price make filver a free merchandize , the merchants
will guide the prize and fend it all away, to the dcftru&ion of your Ma-
icftiefiWint.
The
(20)
The Merchants of London, had they this power they defire, would
by tricks, either by Security or Exchange, get all the Gold and Silver
into their hands.
And then I tremble to think what will follow, if the Merchants be
Rafters of all the money : your Majcfties Fleet will lie at Chatham, at
Port [mouth, fyc. and no moneys to be raifed, but at the will of their Ban-
kers j Your people in Parliament Pnall grant your Majcfties Subfidies,
and when it comes to be paid, they have no money but what is in the
Merchants Banks, or upon the Merchants Security, they having gotten
into their hands all the money .
All the world knows, the whole ftock of the money of the King-
dom, is to be dtfpofed of by die credit of the City of London-, the City
of London gives the Rule to the Kingdom, and the Merchant of Lon-
don for credit upon money rules the City, now if yourMijeftieuY:>u!d
put this power into the Merchants hands, to tranfporc Gold and Silver
at their pleafurc, it would be a ready way to fee the late Tragedies act-
ed over again; and it is granted by allperfons, rhatGold and Silver
commandcth all things-, it your Ma)eftie fliould part with this Royal
Prerogative , I humbly defire your Nlajeftie, upon my knees,tocon-
fider where you will lodge this great Jewel, which is the quinteflence
of the Militia :\h\\mb\y (ay manyMerchants otLondon are recovered but
lately out of the madnefs of a dangcrousRebt!lion,and wife men ufe to
watch fuch as have been once frenzie afterwards in all their actions, left
being let goe at their own pleafure they one time or another do either
thcmfclvesorfomeothersamifcheir ; this I now humbly lay, is to
preferve your Majefties Gfeatnefe, tfonour, and fafety of your Jiajefty,
and your mod honourable P rivy Council.
I ftudy not to pleaie fome Merchants, but to fervc your Majiftie in
truly ftating this bufinefs, I being formerly imploicd in this fervice by
yourRoyal Father he would have believed me in this point,and concern-
ing the regulating ofGold and Silver lace^and removing the obftrucHors
of the Mint for (even years. I had theonely care of this bufmefs by his
Majcfties orier,to prevent the transporting Gold or Silver.
If your Majeftk fuffer the Merchants to obtain this their defire, all the
paiments of the Kingdom will be unfixed , and your Majcfties Subjects
will have no money left but Groats, and (ome odd monies, to buy But-
ter and Eggs-, the Tenants muft pay their Reat>. after the Barbarious
way in Scot land inBoulesof Corne, and Chaldrons of Vi&uills,
Coles, Horfes, Cowes, and Sheep. Your Majcfties Privy Councel,
and
(20
and your great Lores, r.tvi Gcntsy,muft truck with their Tenants inftead
of a thcuf and pound Sterling, to be paid them in current Gold and Sil-
ver, according to 20. s. the pound Sterlingfor Gold, they muft at this
day pay 2 1 .*. 6 A. if ch;y will have a twentie (hillings peccc* is not this
awron^and dimunition to all the Lords in En gland, feven pound ten
{hillings in the hundred, in all the Rents they are out of by Lcafc.
But let Silver be made a free Merchandize,^ Tranfport at their plea-
fure, without your Majefties leave, farewell all Land-Lords payments in
money (then, which God defend your Majcftic mould expofe all the
N^bilirie to beat the will of the Merchants, for to receive either their
Kent in Money or Ware.) All payments in silver will raifc the price of
your Englim (hilling (lull be fet againft your Majefties Crown, and
Dignitie by the Merchant, as at this day, all the world know they have
prcfumed without your Majefties leave,and againft your Lawcs,to fend
away all your Majefties current Gold of the Nacion, and to make it a
Merchandize here in Londtn^ in contempt, defpitc, and affront of your
M3jeftie, the Parliament, and your Majefties Lawes and Statutes, and
now are fo brazen Fac'd, that they look , and fue to have libertic to
rob the King of this great priviledg.I humbly hope theMerchants bribe-
i.-so daies are paft. they had once a time in the long Parliament to malce
t'heir Gold and Silver break thorough all Bans,all Lawes j a Corporati-
on of London^ with a pyn: Purfc, was fucha Roman Ram, that it batter,
ed down all the Lawcs, and Statutes. I humbly hope this bufineflfe,and
the mifc hiefs that would follow, if they mould obtain, their defire is fo
clearly (\a^d, to be only in your Majeliie, and ynur mo ft Honourable
Privy Council, that you will never pare with it to any Corporation of
Merchants, or others, but to keep it fa fe where the Law hath difpofed
it, it is a lewel the Law hath inverted in the Crown, and cannot be va-
luedjic is an ineft imablc Pearl and R icbes.
That if the Merchants cotld by confederation pay down a Million of
Mo^ey to 5 our Ma : tftie prcfently, to have it in their hands ; Your Ma-
kefile vrould be a lofer, Your Majeftic would part with that which is
Your Honour, Your Safetn-, Your Lords, and all Your Peoples fafctie,
the Soul of the Militia.
I pray God upon my Knees, your Mafeftie,and your Privy Councel,
would confider what is here laid, and fet a mark on thefe men that at-
tempt under flyandfained pretences, by fubtiltie and craft, to under-
mine >vur Majefties Throne, Crown, and Dignitie; thefe men that de«
fire this to be in their Powcr> are like Water men 3 look one way, and
Row another. Thefe
(22)
Thcfe men many of them have defigned in their heart the moJdleof
aCommon-wealthjtobcthefltteft Government for this Kingdome-,
God hath delivered your Majeftic from the Sword-man, the Club man,
and hath reftored your Majcftie to the Glory, and Greatneffc of your
Royal Father, and your PrcdccelTors, with the Hearts of all your good
Subjects, and a large increafc of the Revenues of your Crown, to the
joy of all your itfa/efties good subjects.
This Glory troubles fome MungrtU of London, that dare not baric,
but are at this day cunning fauning tya»/«/j, that would by fauning co-
zen your Majeftic of this Great, atd Koyal Prerogative, which had they
it, in feaven years they may lay fuch a Foundation, that the Child un-
born may rue it.
I have read of a little Fifh that (licking to a Ships fide (hail flop a
great Ship under fail. The Merchants or a Kingdom or Common-
wealth that arc Bankers and havelibertie to traniporc Gold and Silver
at their pleafure, rule the Commonwealth both for War or Peace, and
have virtually the fovereign powcr,beingMafters of all the peoples mo.
nie. Thefe Bankers can hang a Pad- lock on the Commonwealths
Sword when they pleafe.- God defend your Majeftie and your Lords
from futTering them to do fo in your Kingdom oft Engl&ndfoi all the rea-
fons before and after folio wirg.
The Merchants of London have tranfpot ted ail the Gold and moftof
the Silver out of England, principally by the confederation and aflift-
ance oftheGoldfmthsin Lumbardfireet^vho are juft in the nature of
the Bankers at /4mflerdam } and the Goldfmiths is your Merchants Jac-
call -as the Jac-call is to the Lion, they hunt for the Lions prey. The
Goldfmiths lay up Gold and Silver for the Merchants to rranfporr,
fome Goldfmiths in Lumbardjlreet ,keeping at this day many great Mer-
chants of London czfhcs^ and fome Noble mens cam by this credit of
feveral mens monies . the Goldfmiths in Lmntbardfieet are in the nature
of Bankers,and have a great ftock of Treafure by them al vvnyes of Gold,
forraigncoines, and Silver.
And as thcfe and the Merchants pleafe to truck and and chaffer , Cct
the price or the currant Gold of your Kingdom at above the price cur-
rant by Proclamation of your Royal Father, and above the price of your
Mint, to the deftruclion of you-; Msjefties Mmt, and againft your Crow n
and Dignities - 7 yoiirMajemes Jtfimistie'dfo ascertain rule both for the
weight and flnenefs of thcStandard of your Maje'fl iesGeld andSilver,and
c&imot by the Law exceed 5 now here rs the mifebie f .
rhe
(23)
The Goldfmiths they go between the Mint and the Merchants that
tranfports Gold and Silver, and out- bids the Mint, i.d . and fome times
2.d.andmorcthe Ounce in Silver, and five (billings the Ounce in Gold
at this day, and Co catch up all the Gold and Silver to nanfport, being
Factors, and Purveyors to the Merchants that tranfports Gold and
Silver. "
And by this confederation between the Merchants, and Goldfmiths,
contrary to the Lawes, and Proclamations of the Kingdom, they have
cheated,and robbed theKingdom,and yourMajeSies Mint in thtTover of
London po& for thefc laft fifteen Yesrs have ceftroyed,and made dciolate -
the fame.
Your Majefties Mint in ail times, by the Law, (hould have the pre-
heminence, and firft icrved.
Your Majefties Mintat this day is neglected, your Majefties Lawes.
defpifed, and your Majeftie, and the Kingdom of England, Lords, Gen-
try, Commons, cheated, and robbed of all your Gold, and almoft all
your Silver, t» the wcakning, and impoverishing of the Kingdom.
This wickcdncflc is done ontly for the inriching of a few "particular
Perfons, Goldfmiths,and Merchants, to the deftrudion of the whole
Kingdom, and if not timely prevented, to the ruine,and deftruclion,and
decay of Trade. This w*s done when we had no KING in //>*?/, God
forbid your M \ jeftie now mould fuflfer it.
If your Majeftie by your juftice do not make fome of thefc Offea-
dors an example 5 and timely prevent ir,by the grave advice of your raoft
Honourable Lords of the Counccl for the time to come,to prevent thefe
abufes by a Law, or renewing the old Laws by your Majefties Procla-
mation, making it loffe of Eftate for any Goldfmiths to fell any Mer-
chants Gold or Silver to tranfpoi t, or to convert Gold or Silver into a-
ny other ufe then Plate, and Gold, and Silver Wycr, the Offcndor for
ever after to lofe his Freedom. .
And that no Merchant, or Goldfmith, {hail give for Gold or Silver
more then it {hall be declared for by Proclamation, upon pain of forfei-
ture* And that all Goldfmiths that arc Exchangers of Forreign Bullion,
fnall enter into fecuritic with theOfficets of your Majefties Mint,to your
Majefties ufe, to Coin the fame, and to convert it to no other ufe. That
no Merchant obtain a Licence from your Majeftie, to tranfport Gold or
Silver, nor the Eaft-W/4 Company,other, or more then they them-
felves cauie upon their own proper accompr, to be iruly imported, ac-
cording to their Charter;, and that all Warrants for tranfporting Gold
D or
or Silver be Regiftred , an„l the Goldfmiths to be tyed to Com all the Gold and
Silver they (hall hereafter buy, fuch Goldfmiths that will not to be debarred,the
liberty to have power to exchange Forreign Gold and Silver, this being a Prero-
gative of the Crown, and never granted the Company of the Gcldfniitbs 3 as I
can prove by the Law, that the Warden of your Majellies Mine is your Majefties
Exchanger, and he may Licence any whom he pleafe to buy Forreign Bullion ,
provided they put in fecuritie to Coin it in the Tower, and convert ic to no other
ufe but to coin upon the pain of forfeiture of his Bonds to your Majefti?.
May it pleafe Yo ir Majejly,my moft humble prayer to Your Majefty, and Privy
Councel is,thatat t \is jun&ureof time the late LordCottingtonsRuIes &Obftr-
vations miybe mad; ufe of for bringing of Gold and Silver into the Kingdom,
that State-man about the year i6$o. made a moft advantageous Contraft with
the King of Spaine,for the bringing in Silver fromSpaine inEnglifh,bottoms and
Landing the Silver at Dover , one third part to be Coyned in Your UWa[cfljes
Pvoyal Fathers Mint in the Tower of London, and the other two parts by Your
Mtjeftjej Royal Father, and his Privy Councels Licence to be transported .at the
will of the Importer/his Commilfijn wasgrantelundsr the Great Seal of Your
Ma)efiyes Royal Father.by the advice of his IV. vy Councel , and above ten rnilli*
onsofSilverCoynedupon thatContraft/romche year i5jo.to 1643 .This Silver
hath bin almoft all tranfported away for the private profit of the Merchant, and
little currant Silver Coyne L*ft in the Kingdom, but light and cliped,a*d Coun-
terfetmony in abundinc-AU theGold lent away,to the defcruction cf theKing-
dom, for the private p*uSt of the Merchants. If Your Majetfy pleafe to inquire of
YourOfficers of theM int they can cei tlfie this is the truth. And what a dangerous
ProjeS this was of fome men, to goe about to fteal fo Royal a Flower out of the
Crown, fuch pilferers are Enemies to Your Majefties Crowne ar;d Dignity, and
ought to be watched as men .newly recovered out of a Lunacy , kept from doing
either themfelves or others mifc'i-fc.
May it pleafe Your Majeity, theKing of Sftztr having peace with Holland.and
France,will not have occafion to Export fo much Mony for Flanders, as He had
when He had Wan with Them. Yet great Summes or Silver' will dayly be Ex-
ported to Flanders from Spaine , to pay the Spaniih Garrifons in Flanders, and
the Trade from Spaine to Antwerp, to pay the Bankers there, will dayly caufe
great quantities of Silver to be Exported from Spain.
I humbly defire,that upon Treaty with ih- Spaniih A mba(Tador, the Lords
ofthe Councel would take order to Carry the King of Spaines SiJvcr, as the
Lord Ctttingten Ceded it; and »hat by the Law it fhould be made Felony, f ->r any
Perfon that did not Coyne one full third part ofall S:;V;r that by agreement
with theKing oiSuint. mould be coyned, this Licence tc beCanftamly allow«
cdto any Perfon upon the King of Syaint Compofition for Tiade from Spake;
And fjr all other Pcrfons whomfocver 3 that Import Silver or Gold, to have it
by Aft of this Parliament, after the faid Silver is Landed , that any Perfon that
Tranfports Gold or Silver, it mould be. Confiscation of Ship and Goods , ai:d
imprisonment during theKing* pleafure. B:fide*,the Forfeiture of all Gold and
Silver fo put on Ship-board,tQ Tranfporc withoutYour Majefties, or your p.ivjr
Coun-
to)
i License; AHchit all Q MntnkHr, or >chc:3 wfi i i ' >'/?.-, t'ir:
Culleth and Melicth llo* uheCurraiicoeavy Silver Coyhi, for any Mahisf..-
fti5rf,ortoTrjn(porr,icflj4lib Felon/, and thic without Mercy.
If Thefe Lawcj by this Parliament tc Revive'.', aid [ your M<>Je{?ie$ Loy.il
I I npowered, an.iComnunc'edby your M.jjdlies MoA Hon utable Px,'vy
:i, to See to (he due Execution ofthem$ 3y the Bleflin» of God , 1 v. \\
in a fcw Veares Replenifh the Great wmr, and Scarcity of Gold inJ Silver, in
the Kiadgom againe j An£ReiBGvrtheprtftntOc<(iiul>ion< oftbeAf:nt.
May it pieafeyourMajeflicJt is the £>ecutiofl of the Law quickens and give;
life to the Law, when knowing perfons fhall be intrufled to fee to the Execution.
There are Laws and Proclamations againft tranfporting gold , but no inc'ou-
ragement confideraMe for a mans time, all the Laws in the world will never re-
form this abufe, if fome Trufty perfons be not appointed to lock in a particular
manner, aDd make it their bufinefs, and a man caanot imploy feveral people to
do cfiis fervice butatgreat charge, vigilance and diligent attendance to keep his
watches, and intelligence in London, and the Ports; ihismdchief daily increafes,
becauie no knowing perfon is impowred and commanded to take care of this
great bufinefs.
Queen Elizabeth would not admit the Eafi India Company, it her firft grant-
ing them to be a Corporation, to tranfport the King of Spurns filver coin into
the Eafi In lies, though the Merchant preffed it very often •, telling her Majefiy
that her Silver Coin and Stamp was not known in the Eafi Indies , they think-
ing by that to get a Licenfe to fend what Silver they pleafed : This molt pru-
dent Queen, and her wifePrivieCouncelreplyed,tothe Merchants of the Eafi-
India Company, that for the very reafon the Merchant alledged, to tranfporc
the King of S pains filver to the Eafi Indies - t it was her fixed reafon and re-
folution unalterable, (he would not grant the Eafi India Company leave to fend
the King of Spains, or any forreign Princes coin into India, but ftich Silver as
was coined with her Effigies and Picture on the one fide, and the Percullison
the other fide, of the juft weight and finenefs of the Spanifh peeces of eight,
and peeces of four Royals, and no other Silver fhould by her Merchants be
fent to India.
And this was her Majefties prudent reafon for the doing thereof, that becaufe
the Indians did not know her, nor fee her greatnefson her Silver, her Ma jelly
gave the Eafi India Company leave to tranfport Gold or Silver, but fo as fhe would
for the time to come give them a juft occafion to reverence and honour her, and
bow at her Effigies, declaring fhe would all the world over, where fhe gave
her Merchants leave to Trade, be known to be as great a Prince as the King of
Spain -. And that none fhould prefume to fend a greater quantity of Silver then
(lie in her wifdome fhould judge fit, to the Eafi Indits, as will appear by their
Charter, both for the quantity, and withhfcr EignreyMotto, and fonxMis upon
the Silver : The Queen* Majefty declaring (lie held it as a fpeciall and chief Pre-
rogative of her Crown and Dignity to put the Pircvllis upon all the Silver the
Eafi India Company fhould fend to the Indies : Nor would fhe admit the Mer-
chants of the Eafi IndiA Company to fend more Silver then fhe and her Privie
D 2 Coun-
(26)
Counce! did approve of; as appears in the Journal Books, the yearly Licences de-
claring (lie would have her Merchants in that point to be fubordinate ro"r-er
will, not her will to be ruled at the Merchants pleafure.
* And fo during all her profperous Reign to her death, this great and prudent
Queen ruled her Merchants,and not the Merchants her- this was according to the
Ltw of England, the Queen would ever be known to be a Queen.
This Narrative will appear to be true, by the Stamps, Weights, and Standard of
this Silver that was coyned in the Tower ready to be produced to your Mayfly and the
mofl Honourable Privie Conned, 'if your Mayfly require the fame • this courfe con-
tinned all Queen Elizabeths Reign, and it would-be for the honour and freatnefs
of jour Afa'yfly, that all Silver transported to the Indksfiould bexoynedof the weio-ht
of Pieces of Eight, with your Mayflies RoyJl Effigies, and the Percuiiis in^the
Tower of London , that fo all th? world ever, the Nations might fee your Royal
flamp,and bow down, and do reverence •, what an honmr had it been to your May-
flies Grandfather and Father to have had fix ty hundredthoufand pounds tranfported
in Silver to the Tndies,w>// their /lamp, which would have been dtne had ^Elizabeths
honourable Rule been obferved : I humbly def re it may be done, hereafter, though your
Mayfiie get nothing but fame, no profit. 1 dare undertake f/tfEaft India Compa-
ny fhallhave their fiver coined in the Tower for 12 pence the found -weight, that is
6~COOO A coy ned for one thoufand pounds.
2"&Eaft India Company bymonie got thir Royal Priviledge laid down at the
beginning of King James his Reign, to the great impairment and Ivffe of his Im-
perial royal Crown and Dignitj -,and to the great lojfe of his Mayfly in his Alint-
tgeandCeynage. and the lofing and diminution of your Royal Grandfather and Fa
the} of B'lejfed memory, in their Revenue at this day above an hundred thoufand pounds
in the totalfim in the duty of coyning, there being ft 'nee King lames his Reign bj
that Company above fix ty hundred thoufand pounds in silver and Gold fent to the
Eaft Indies, were their Bockj of Entries examined, and their Books of Account
to their f ever dl Fdl-rirs in India-, what they have feht yearly to every particular
faftorj, and font: Auditors appointed to make the infpefl ion upon Oath.
I humbly fay, there would befoundmany hundred thoufand pounds tranfported both
of Englifb Gold, and Silver, more then ever they had licence from the King- to fend
to the great weakling, damage and decay of this Nation, they being a Company that
heretofore ufed to bribe out all their abufes by one courfe or other.
Had not your Mayfly by your Royal par dm pardoned them, they fhould before
this time have found the Eaft India Company charged by me in the Exchequer with
many hundred thoufand pounds of Englijh Gold and Silver, and of half Crowns and
foreign Gold and Silver transported, againfl the Law ( and Statutes of the King-
dome, la th'unhtvi got of m well at they could.
May it pleafe your M.i'\efty, That company pretends a dibt your Royal Father
flpeuld rnvtihemfor Sill'j and Pepper delivered unto one Burkmack, a Merchant a~
bout the Tear, l6|0. upon your Rjal Fathers account, had not your May Hie in
jivr great mercy p.vdon.'d this-very Company of Merchants' in your gracious and free
2ardm± I.&60. I conld have chalked out the -way to have peppered the Ea£ India
(2 7 ■'
Company, it badtteVfr been fo peppered Jince it wcj a Comptrty, thry art fardoned for
what is pafi, but they have no Privilcdge fir the time to ccme.
Bat if your Mayfty command me to watch the Eaft India Company that the j
{or the future fend no more gold or fiivtr then they have licence for from
'your Majefiy , I Jhall faithfully do it, and give a flop to thefe mifchkfs they have
formerly committed.
If your Mayfly command, J fhall not fear the riches or great nefs of the Eaft In-
dia company, or Merchants of London, but I will tramel them and reduce them to the
due cbedience of your Mayfties commands, and the Law of the Kingdom.
For the longer this bufinefs is not lec kjd after, makes fame Merchants thinkjo get
leave to weaken the Kingdom in general \ and incroach npon your A/ajefties f acred Pre-
rogative to fend what filver and gold they lift away for the future, without anyComp-
t roller.
Mayitpltafeyoir Mafsjty, a Court in the nature of the S'ar. chamber,
would Froftbite thefe Gentlemen, and make them pluck in their Horns,
and fubmit to your ^fcieilics Lawes, which will be for the good of the
Nation in general, that thefe men may be curbed , and not left to rob
the Kingdom of all its Gold and Silver, as lorn? AiVrchanls have taken
the boldnefsto do,w.Uen we- had ao Kingpin this our /jr^/fof this laft fe-
venteen years.
Never S*/W-%^ plaid fuch tricks in the abfence of their Schoe'-ma?
fters, zs[dw\zoh\\cLor)don-merchs>;ti h-ive done .-When the Books of the
Common council of London capita out together with the Eaft India
Companies books, be throughhe mfpe&edjyoiir /fcfdeftie and your ho-
nourable Privie Council will fee incredible pa.fFages^fit for Your maieftie
to know, fuch as is for Your rriaiefiies honour and fafttie forthc future id
prevent, viz,,
I mod humbly pray yourMajeftie and your honourable Privie Coun-
cil, to com mind true Copies of all the Acts of the Common Council
of London^ from onethoufand ux hundred and thirty <-ight,toonethou^
fand fix hundred and fixty, and the true copies of the Eaft Indies Com-
panies books of Envoys fent to their Fa&ors, of all the Gold and Silver'
they fent yearly, the mips name, and by what FacTpr, and to what Fa-*
clors in India and Perfia, ever fince ore tl bMand fix iv;r.dred and twenV
tie, to one thouf'and fix hundred and fi icty : Not that 1 have the leatT
thought that any of them mould be pupped for what is pafc by reafon
oi your Majelties gracious pardon, but that an Eye migl\? be ' kept over
them to keep them from committing the fame or the like bffceces again
againft your Maieftie, your Crown, and Dignify.
I humbly fay, larn Co charitable to them r that I had rather fee thenp
alwaiA ■•■
( 28 )
alwaies upright :nalhhch- anions, then ever to hear that your Makefile,
mould put you: Royal fclf to that trouble to pardon them again •, when
they have offended, it is better, 1 humbly fay , for the Merchants, that
your Ma jefty take all courfe to keep (omc Merchants from falling ; then
to take them up after they are down, if they be watched that they flikll
have no oppoitunine to offend, it faves the labour of punifhing any of
them.
Some Merchants I have heard fay at the Council of Trade ore thou-
fand fix hundred and fiftie, that it is an old Hercfie to hinder chetranf-
porting of gold and filvcr freelie , and Co retrain it in the Kings hands
he only to give a licence to tranfpor: Sure I am it is a Phanatick opinion
for the Merchants to labour to obtain it out of your Majeftie* and your
privic Councils hands,
Some Merchants are great magnifiers of Commonwcalths,their Poli-
cies and Governments, thofe that are for an Amfterdam model both in
the Church and Kingdom; bum our Kings lacred hands this great
Truft in all Ages bath happiUe continued, and no Merchant never
durft ask fuch a requcft to have it at their own difpc fe •, thefe Merchants
covet more profit and gain then they do the Kings Majefties greatnefs,
and that makes them fo bufie to get this Royal flower out of the
Crown.
iM ay itpkafcyour Majefiy, your Standard of Gold and Silver is'fixed
to all your Sub/eels of allyour Nations, the pound (terling is a fixed
paimem, and is the guide to all the Bankers in Chrijlendom ; for till they
return their Bills of Exchange for England, no Banker or Merchant
can tell certainly the true intrinfecal value they fhill receive for a hun-
dred pounds delivered in their Banks, by Bills of Exchange to any
place but oncly England^ where thefe paiments are fixed and p ued ac-
cording to the pound fterling, which is by millings, pence, and half-
pence, without any fraud or bankmonie, from the paiment of one hun-
dred pound, to the paiment of one hundred thoufand pounds , no man
can be wronged of a penie,but it will exa&lie appear upon the cafting up
of the accompr. Commonwealths and Bankers go upon Merchants
fubtiltics, that is not for the Honour and Dignitie of your Mjjeftie, to
makeyourmoniego high , when you are to paie your Armies 3nd
Fleets, and then prefently to call it down in Ktngdbmes ; Kings are Sa .
cred^ and cannot aft flick dirty, trick; , a^ Commonwealths do.
England* Tragedy from one thoufand fix hundred foil rtie three ,to one
thouiand fix hundred and fiaRie, may fejve asa warning to all good fob.
jea s
je&s, how to turn Kkigdomes into Commofrwtalchs , or to leave the
power of tranfporting Gold or Silver at the wilt and pleafure of the
merchant. Merchants-are like fire and water, Good Servants , but bad Ma*
fiers h in their proper fphecxs good,but to get a head deftru&ive to man-
kind j witnefs the late horrible Tragedies fomented and continued onely
by the pleafure and power of the Jferchams and the wealth of London :
The bum Child dreads the fire. I loft twentic thoufand pounds by the
late Rebellion, which was hatched and kindled for the grcateft part by
thole of London.
They forfeited with Plenty, Riches , and Trade , the la-c Royall
King Charles the firft, by his late Royall Fleets, laid the Foun-
dation of the Merchants of Londons greatnefs and reputation all over the
World , no Prince nor Commonwealth daring to injure the
Merchants of London^ but the King with the firft winde had his Royal
Fleets in their Harbours to demand repcrarion to the Merchants con-
tent, cUc their harbours debarred Trait. The late glorious King got
the envy of the Ship monies, but never a penny of it in his Exchequer.
The Merchants of London got the profit, advantage, arid fecurity by
Trading fafely, and the Seas fcont cd from Pyratcs : H >w unthankfuily
the Merchants requited hisMajcfty, was (hewn in this late Rebellion, I
fpeak not this that any mould bepunifhed, but that they might be pre*
vented for the future to do the famj things again, as they did thisiaft
fevenrecn years.
In King James and K'mgCharles their r.ugos.thofegood Kin^s was got
into the Citie of Londonsdzht, and ro come out of it they did part with
their Lands at half the value. When Mailers borrow Money of their
Servants , it makes them generally overvalue thcmfelvcs and flight their
Mailers. I hope in a few years his Majefty will be in that condition to
lend the City of Ltndon money, upon their Charter, the like to theHaft
India Company and otner Companies to have their Lands bound, This
was King Henry the fevenths W3y,he would alwaics have his £xchccque r
full of money , finding it to be the greatcft fecurity to prevent all mif-
chief, to have ,the King richer then his pt >pie.
In the year one thoufand fix hundred fourty feven, yourRcyalFa°
ther being informed that many Members of Parliament , and factious
Citizens was tranfporting and packing away their eflates in Gold be-
yond the Seas, whichthefehad irr aboundar.ee cozened the Kingdom
of, your Royal Father commanded me by one Mr. Francis Brogdm,
of Londm Gentleman, 'one whom his Majefty conflantly imploiedto
go between him and his loyal Subjects, then Pnivacrs in the Tower:
This '
(30)
7°his Mr. Francis Btegden brought me his Majefties, your Royal Fathers
pleafure, thatl mould labour in the pretended parliament: houle to ob-
tain a commiffion to dilcover the transporters of Gold and Silver , but
fo that if I obtained it, I uhould ufe my diligence to difcover the Pailia-
mentmen,and their fa&iousMerchants oi London, to make them odious
to the Kingdom that tranfportcd Gold and Silver out of the Nation: I
ufed my endeavour to make them publick to the World, for feveral
years, to get this Cornmiffion to pafs by the pretended A&of Parlia-
ment,anditis well known to many of the then Parliament, Sir fames
Harrington, Fleetwood, and feveral others^ bnt was particularly oppofed
by boih the A(hes, Mien, Harvey, Sir Henry Vane, Strickland, and many
others of the Parliament, and by fwanns of 5c<5iaties of the City of
London: which men had tranfportcd the Gold and Silver eut or the
Nation 5 and therefore to be lure to have them within compafs of the
Law, I cauied a Gentleman to file in the £xchequer a hundred informa-
tions againft the tranfporters or Gold and fiiver, and to let them remain
on record, till your Majefties Royal Father did come to London (this
was about ore thouland fix hundred and fourty eight)at that time being
the hopes and prayers of all good men. But God had decreed it other-
wife, by taking your Royal Father out of this World, the World efpe-
cially, this unthankful Nation, noc being worthy of him t, fo all things
refted till your Majeures happy arrival in May 29. 1660.
Concerning the t ranfporting of Gold and filver,though your Majeftic
hath pardoned the trani porters of Gold till 29. May 1661. I. humbly
fay,yourMajeity hath declared that for the future you will have all men
conformable to your Laws,without refpe& of perfons 5 if this rule be ftri-
c31yobfcrvcd,yourMaj:fty will never put this great buunefs of trans-
porting Gold and Silver to be at the Merchants will and pleafurc, Icaft
the fame tumults and troubles be played over again by fome Phanatick
Merchants, as they have done within twenty years •, yourMajefty may
asfaielyputaSwor dintoaMadmsns hand, oraKnifeintoaChilds,
as truft the Merchantstotranipovt Gold or Silver without yourMaje*
flies licence, after it is once landed.
To
no
TO THE
KIN G S
mod Excellent Majcftie :
And to the moft Honourable the
LORDS' of his Majesties moll: Honourable
T%IVY COVS^CEL.
The Humble Petition of r#3. VIOLET of London^ Goldfmith.
Mo ft Dread Sovereign!
SSI Your Majcftics moft Humble and LoyaU
! Subject for your Ma;efties fervice humbliepray,
Wffl l|J|!j that the Eaft- Wwand Verfu Companie, bring in
jjfjj^gj their Charter 5 whereby ycurMa/'eitie and yourPri*
vie Councel will inform your felveSjby the Charter yourRoy*
all Father and Grand-Father paffed with what privildge they
have granted them ,& upon what conditions and reftri&ions*
£» Tha: your Ma/eftie and your Privie Councel would be
pleafed to require an accompi of the EiftJndia andPerJia-
Gompanie 3 cf all the (ammes of monie, Gold or Silver^ either
Forrain or Englifh, which they have lent into India and ?er*
/L* ; everfince July i62 4 thisis no new thing, for they did in
I6lo,givcan accompr,and made it by their Books appear^tba:
from the Onginall and firft foundation of their Tr^de, in
Anno \6o l, to July 162% they had (hipped awaie for J/k/w
on* He, 5480^0/. fterling in Spmifh monie* 3 and fome F/e*
E mifr
(11)
mijh and Germme Dollar*, which accompt was prefcnteJIin
Parliament at that time.
3* Yonr Petitioner deiircsyour Majefly to take notice^
that if the State in Parliament were then lo carefuil in times
of peace, and the Trade of the Nation flourifliing, to call the
Uift'India Company to an accompt for twentie years, and to
caufe them to make their accomprs plainly to appear by their
Books for twentie years ; furely, I humbly conceive, your
Ma/efties and your Privy Counceil will exfpe& for the fer-
vice of the Kingdom, to have -an exaft accompt of all the
Treafure the E&- India and Terjta Companic have exported;
and to have them to Produce a /uft accompt, what quanti-
ties ofGold or Silver they have bought inHolland, and injother
Forrein places, immediately upon their propcf accompt,and
what quantitie of Englijh melted Silver in Bars, they have
bought of Gold- foniths in London; what quantities of Gold
in Bars, they bought of the Guink and Barbaric Companies
what quantities of" Englifh coined Gold they have fent into
the Etihhdies, and to fyrfia; what quantities of Cardques,
Rix-Doiiars, Rials of Spain, or any other Forrein Silver, they
have bought up inLo»4o«,ofMcrchants,Ooldfmiths,or others,
Which without the Eaft- Iw/i* Company fo buying^ would
have been brought into the Mint 2nd coined, to the great
augmentation of the Rock oftbis Nation. And that thry be
iequiredto give your Majcfty, and your Privie Counce), an
Accompt or what quantity of Spanifh Pjftollets, Dutch Ri-
ders 3 Hungarian Duckets,Gold Gilders y Go4J Albertus Ji Ban-
ders, Italian Piftakts^ Turky Suite If , and all other Forreio Geld
and Silver, they have bought up hi London^ of Goldimiths,
Merchants , Natives 5 and grangers , which have not been
members
00
members of their Companie, and tranfported to India
m&tPerfij, fince 1620. All which, lam fare they have
peife&Accomptsof, Aadthacthe aforefsid Companie be re-
quired to fend your M?/eftif,arid ycur Privie Councel, in all
the Warrants and Licences for their doing of the fame, and for
a true difcoverie of the piemiflei .
4. That your Majefty, and your Privie Councel, would
require the Books of£nvoies,of the iameLading of everie fliip,
of ail the Gold and Silver, in Bars, or Coin, that hath been
fent to the Ez&zhdies und'Perfia, fince I610* for by them your
Majeftie and your Privie Councel fhall lee what Gold and Sil-
ver each (hip carried, and the Ships, Factors, and Maftei's
names, and to what Fadorie in PerjU or India, and the feveral
years, andfo your Mayeftie and your Privie Coun cell will
quicklie fee theyuft quantise to a pennie what they have tranfe
ported , and in what fort of Coin, either Englifh Gold or
Silver, or Porrein Gold or Silver, for the(e fourtic years ; the
giving your Ma/eftie and your Privie Councell a true ac*
compt thereof, will be of great concernment to the Kingdom
in many refpects*
5„ That your Ma;eftie and your Privie Councell would
appoint a Committee to view over the Journal Books : for
out of them there will be gathered bufiseffes of great concern-
ment te the Nation ,• and if fome able Book-Keepers be ap-
pointed with me, to take out what I fliali obferve in them, it
will tend highly to the lervice of your Majeftieand give a flop
to great mifchefs that is daily pra&iled on the Kingdom.
6* If your Majeftie and your Privie Councel pleafc to in-
form your (elves by this waie, your Ma/eftic and your Privie
Councel will fecclearlie manie other fecrets, upon pcrufal of
E 2 thefe
04;
tnefe Books, then I will fpeak of, and fe your Ma/eftie and
your Privie Councel will be able to red; fie 2nd fettle the
Trade in aftQiirifhing conoirjon,thatit may be benificiall to
the Kingdom, and all the Adventurers, whereas heretofore
*nd now as it is managed, none gecreth by ir 5 but the Com-
roittees of the Paid Companies, and the Companies Fa^-
£tors and their Officer?. The Adventurers having been blind*
cd ever Once it was a Ccmpanie, ?.n J kd by the note by their
fervants, or elfc how could their Faciois and (ervams be Co
rich,and the Companies llcck To poor.
?% May it pleafe your Ma/eftie and your Fr*vie Councel
Ihumblieconceive^upon the Examination of all the premie
fe?,.When that the Books of the Corrpanie are examined it
will be found that the ILift- India Corrpanie hath (entawaie
the Kingdoms Coin, both in Gold and Silver., manie hun-
dred thouiancl pounds more then ever they had warrant for
to do,- from your Mayefties- Gran r Father or Father thouoh.
your . Mayeftie and your Privie Councel hath forgiven it, yei
It ought to be prevented for the future this mifchief-whichyour
Petitioner moil humblie praies for your Majefties and your
Privie Counfels (crvtce, alf That your Majeftie and your
mofl honourable Privie Councel commandatrueTranfcript
undcrthe hand of theTown.Clerkof the Citie of ZWw , to
be tranfmitted to your Mijeitie and your Privie Councel of
all the Acts, and Orders of the Common Councel from the
year 1638* to the 25* Murch I660, It is true, your Ma/'eftie by
your gratious pardon hath pardoned all offences , but
for the future there will be great ufe made of their Orders, to
know by what degrees, and fteps the late confufions got to
a head,aad poifoncd that great bodie of your Citie of London*
I bunt*
• •( . (15)
I hu -viblic fate, your M.ijeite and your mofi honourable
PrivleCouncel will make great u!e of the fight of them, to
prevent anie the iikediftuibance again and to nip thenfin
the bad (this wi i be for the general good and quiet of th«
whole Kingdom ) for as London pipes, fo thegreateft parto£
the Kingdom dances, cfpeciallie all Cities and corporations^
keep the (pring head clear from being diftuibed, the ftreams
will run alwaies clear, they have your Ma/efties mod:
gratious pardon for what is pan:, but tbnt gives them no
priviledg: coactche like things again, either by frauds fcined
pretences,or by force*
The Eaftplndia Companie -formerlic having made ic
their common practice by giving great fummesofraoniefor
Bribes,, to have liberie to opprcis the good people of the Na*
tion,and to have Licence with Authoritie to deceive the King-
dom ; all which abufts, 1 praie God, by the wifdbm of your
Ma/dtie, and your moil honourable Pnvfe Councel, may be
carcfulhe found out 5 and fuch Order and Regulation made for
the future for all Traders, as may be moil for 'the profperitic
of this Kingdom in general!, without anie regard to parti-
cular Intereft, when it fliall be found dcftru&ive to the King-
dom, and your dutifull and loyal Sub/eft fhall pray for your
Majcfties long and profp«rous Reign over us.
Novemb. x8. \66o,
E
Signed,
Tho. Vioieh
<37)
I charged tbeEifoladfa Company before the Qouncel of Trade
16 50. Tt>ith robbing the Nation of many hundred thou/and pounds of
Gold and Silver^ more then they badLktnct to fend^nd j kVerall other
Mifdmeanours, Thereupon the Qouncel of Trade male tbef. Or
ders.
■
. Die Mercurii Sept, n. \6$o.
At the Councel for Trade at White-hall.
Ordered,
f I 'Hat the EaftJndh Qompany be de fired to produce their Origi*
A X m ^ Carter btfore th'u Councel.
Ordered,
T Mat the Eaft*lndl& Company be defered to bring into this
Councel , fbbat Licences they formerly have had granted them
for the Tranjporting of Bullion, or Coin^ fence the year 1620.
Ordered,
THat the EaJlAndh Company be intreatedlikewije to produce
the direB and true Accompts of all the feVerall fummes of
Bullion and Coin, in anyjfrecie to the full^ that hath been year-
ly tranf ported by them , fence the year 1620.
Ex. Ben. Worn/, Secret*
''But theft Orders were never obeyed^ but fame ofthe^mp farliaz
mentwas brib'd, and no {Reformation, I only got the EnVyfor making
tht s
1
(36)
this VifcoVery i I humbly hope theEafl*lad& Companies time of bri-
bing. out all Bufinefs is expire d^now in jour Ma je flies blcjjed Reign ;
Truth fiill preVaile, e facially fuch as are for pur Majeilies Honour,
and Safety,- ^
I fhall humbly fafb your Majeftie the damage the Kingdom fuffered
byfendingall the Silver to the Ej/Mndies in bpanifli monie, before it
mas coinedVuh Kjng Jarr.e'Sj andKjng Chzxk's Face, and the Per*
cullijfes, as it was cohrd in the ^ign of Qu,een Elizabeth, and hum-
bly recommend it to your Majefliej and your <Privy Qounceljo haVe
aU Silver fo coined before it goes to the Indks.
it is for theGreatnefs y and Honmr of theiQng, to have the Silver,
bis Merchants Trade wither ft av.ed with thefercidiifes^n^ His Ef~
figies andMctto^all oVerthe World- far debugs greatnefe is theMer*
chants Jecuritie j and protecl.im J end to he male of the height ofpeices
of Eighty and of the fame Stand.u d t as it was in the Queens time- the
^C/ W c? ty es tn p oini °f Coinage by not Coining, the Sdver u fent to the
Eaft-lndk?, as Queen Elizabeth dd } the Haft \nd\z Companie had
paid to the Z\ings Grandfather ^and Father of bbffcd memory y a hundred
thouj and pounds, which would have bin clear profit finct l\ing J^mes,
in his Majefties Exchequer jmd all hi* Officers for Coining payd,tf Queen
Elizabeths <J{ule had been obferVed, to Coin all the Sdver fent beyond
Seas. If the Eaft-IndisL Companie Boob be looked oVer t they hanje
fent above ftxtie hundred thouj and pounds inSiher to the Ei/Mndies,
finct the fir faffing James in Spanifh Silver } more nionie by fane
then U at this day i/iEnoland.I humbly recommend it for your Mayflies
Honour, an Profit. that yourMajtftie for the future may coin all Silver,
or Gold, that jo the Indian Trinces mayfeeyour Effigks } and bow at
thefgh: hereof; As 0«eert Elizabeth made the Merchants to do, or
tlfe theyfhould not fend her Silver, The truefafetie and prcteclion of
the
(18)
the Merchant is, that they are Subjefti offuch a great fQng^tbat cm
caufejuftice and (Right to be done to His Merchants ^as far as the Seas
ebbs and flowes roundabout the World, it is truly for the Merchants fe*
virtue if they would confUer rightly of all things, and loVe the IQngs
Monour^as well as their own Profit.
MAIttpleafe your Sacred Maj'flic, I here humbly give your
Majejlie,and you>- Privy Counal an accompt concerning my
Jlaymg the Ships Samplon, Salvador, and St. George,
15. Decemb. \6$l.Tbe day the Judges had refolded in the Admiraltie
to clear theft Ships y their Silver and Lading, then being three hundred
thou/and pounds in them. I /aw about that tmeDon Aionib Decar-
denis the Span* ft Amb tffador Extraordinary , come to the Pymp
Parliament, and owned thtir power, as a free State and Parliament. I
heard that many in Am Herd am was playing the fame prancks there
with the Prince of 'Orange > as the Londoners had plaied with Tour
Maf flies (Royal Father, and your W.ajeftieJJaw the Face of all things
look Veryfadly, both in Fiance, Holland and Spain, tbePpyaU par-
tie being banifted from home, put to great extremities abroad, and al-
moft infufferable wants'. At "Which time I had advice from one of Do-
ver that the three hundred thnufand pounds in Silver in the aforefaid
Ships, yart of it appertained to Amftcrdaro Merchants, and other
parts to Spaniards, andfome to Hamburgers^ and I hah the Copies
of the Original Commijjion undir the Great Seal of Holland, to de
Witr, and de RtKer, tie Vice Admirals of Holland, to require them
toguard all Ships coming from Spain to Ofte ad, or Dunkirk, from
the Englifh,^ Dutch and Parliament being at Warre y and this was
done upon the ■ Petition of the Merchants of Wnfterdarn, to the high
and mghtie Lords the 5 7 at es, to gmrd the Ships from the (Englift);
which
^ 9)
which Commiffio i, and Tctitio-i at this day remains in the Admiraltie.
w 1 might firft divide the pretend: j, Conncel of State y in
1. dmoii ft t:cmjciVes t akut tits Silver^n the afo) cfa'td
, and ft t than U jiay it, which 1 Kne^ wuuld ingage the (}{ump
Parliament in aforreign W&^mdfitlyough <ibel\wg$&artkj&eyt cb-
/ reffe.lat lorn , the 1{UHp might waft tktf Souldie* s, and h.Ve more
ha'ds about their Ears then the) were aware of and in tune le wkn
O'it f breathy and fo the (Royal Tartie might rife again. I divided
t'.eCouncd (q 04 there was t%n for finding me to the Tower, and
during the Silver } and twelve for the flaying the Silver, and giving
inks, Imide jmuofmy ficret Friends acquain.ed ft'iib this
dtfign, t hey approved thereof and fo having promijed fecretly one tv a=
nother^for it concerned my life. I told them from time to t'me Low I
liidmy d'jfn, till at Lift I ingaged Grom\vi\ to take up the Silver
aimrd the Ships 3 Samprco, Safrad.Gr; and St. George and
t'\tc be would diftolve the Parliament - t the fame night that he diftolved
tie long (parliament, he ceuld notfleep for it' at out the 1 5. April
1 iy. Croni vvel ftn: Mi $adlcr the Town-Clerk of LONDON,
a;id C#//.Bi ng-i«VYi to nv y , to come p> efently to him at the Cotk*pir ,
to give him the Qippies -fall tie 3dls oftheje Ships Lading , and the
Value ofthcSiiV'r^vLicbl did ; and fter he had them, Cromwell
could [not fleep til! he had the Sdvt- w3,irkfteads cuftdyintheTzv;-
er. 1 found him tsbe forward in it to get the Silver into his poffefion
tn thtTpwcr; being %9. jApril 1653. Oliver Cromwell jent a
guxrd of Soulditrs tofeize $n the Stiver aboard thefe Ships, the Sam-
pibr, Salvador, and St. George 3 f/?e 20. day 0/ April i652,BracU
fLiW tore his Hair before me, and a Friend of mine, Bradfhaw
telling him that Crcm well had undone them all by forcing the (Par*
HameHt y and that now hefiw apparently he Tpas an undone man.
Btadfimv ftormmg at me ThoS[iGkt, faying, 1 -was thefatalleft
F man
, r4p;
manthat ever was to theCouncel and Parliament for ft ayinglhis Silver, and that had I
not ftt the Councel and Parliament to ft ay this Silver y tiU that ev rj mans claim was
■particularly proved, the Silver had been all Tranfported, and Cromwell never durfi
have diffolved the Parliament, had he not got the Silver in thtfe Ship J?ein<r three I ut-
dred thoufand pounds into his hands.
All which 1 did premeditately to fet them, and the Councel, Parliament, and
altogetherby the£ars,to divide and weaken theirCouncels.And I made feveral per-
fons acquainted with my defign,who are wel known to yourMa jeftie,both for their
Service and Fidelity, if 1 be required I will name them. Before ever r undertook
this BufinefTe,/ had their advice>,and approbation under lecreiie, for it had coft us
all our lives had it bin known,! had given the Parliament this vomit to undo them.
This 1 can prove to be the truth, and Sir fames Harrington, Frances Allen and
Tho. Scot ufed to fay, it was Violet deft roved the Parliament, and not Cromwell*
for had I not flayed the Silver Cromwell -dm ft not have forced the Parliament. But
whereas Dodor JValkrr, Mid fome others have declared to fome Merchants, and o-
thersof London, I .ftayed the Spaniards Silver, and would not con fen c to the dif-
charge-, I was fo far from hindnng the Spaniards of their right, that I Petitioned
Cromwell and his Councel to difcharge the Spaniards Silver. But Dodor fVal'ker
oppofed me in ir, as appears by Dodor Walkers Certificate to Cromwdls Councel.
Mr. fejj op Chrk pfthe Parliament delivered it to me upon condition I (hould
return it to him when I had done witii it, I humbly pray your Majefties moft
Honourable Councel to take the pains to perufe it, and they will fee only Dodor
Walker 'ftaid all the Spaniards filver, I ftayed the Dutch filver.
At laft when Oliv.r Cromwd favv his Error , in taking on himfelf the go-
vernment in his fingle perfon, and in looking after the filver mines in Hifpaniola
and feizing upon the filver, as I had fet him to do, he curfed me often times bit-
terly; Mr. Beck.ol VVtftminfter, being Oliver €romwels Solicitor , and Mafter
Francis Bacon the Mafter of his Requeft : I ufed them tofollicit my bufinefsto
Cromwel, for to get fatisfadion for my eftate unjuftly taken away, but rhey both
told me, he would never do nothing for me, for he hated my name and remem-
brance ; and that whenfoever they moved him of my name concerning any bufi-
nefs.he would be in a rage ^ Mr.Becl^, and Mr. Bacon feveral times have asked
me whether 1 could imagine the re^fon ? I told them No, 1 wondred at it.
But indeed I know the reafon, he did fee I had fct him on thofe things which
he was not able to mafter, and though I put on it the face of innocency I knew
from the firfthour that Cromwell took 11^278250/. into his cuftody, that he
would deftroy the Parliament,andd;vide and fubdivide among themfelves, till all
ended in confufion : I thought it my duty to give your A/a;eftie, this true Accompt
andean prove it as aforefaid,and feveral otherfervices,your Petitioner hath done
for your Mzjeftie, where in every on he ventured* his lite for yowr -A/afefties fer-
vice, and never had farthing either of the Parliament or Cromwell, but expended
his own money for feveral years,to the value of fifteen hundred pounds.And twen-
ty thoufand pounds taken from me by theParliament as aforefaid. There are many
of the then Honourable Prifoners in the Tower can tell your Majeftic, how
adive /was always in your^Wajefties Fathers fervice in the Tower; J humbly refer
my felf to this following Certificate for the lofs of my Eftate, Thefe
(40
THefe are to Certifie^ whm it may concern . That I WtJ liam
O u- Card of London, Clerk, IxiVe known Thomas Vio-
let of Loudon Goldfmith many years • and have been privy
to his applications to the Parliament, for reform? him to bis ejlate,
t.i ken from him by the Parliament in 164}. for his bringing up a Leu
ter of Peace to the City of London, from Oxford, from his late
Majeftie CHARLES the I. of blejfed Memory . And J have feen
Mr. Violcrs Original Petitions 3 Account 5, and Demands of the
Long Tttrlidment, for fatisfatlionfor his Eftate^ in Lands, Houfes,
Offices iHonds, Debts, Goods , to the Value of above eleven thou*
/and pounds ; fo much hath been covfejfed to me by /everal of the
Committee of r Fs>liment y that Examined tht faid Tho. Violets
Jufferings y that they found it fully proved Mr.Violtts Loffesto be
above thefumme of eleven thoufand pounds, befides his Imprifonment
and forbearance* And J have heard feVeral Parliament men confejfe,
that Mr , Violet was lmjuflly oppre/ied, contrary to Gods Law and
mans y for being /eque/ired for bringing up the $\ings Letter for
7-ence i and feveral Members of Parliaments upon my Solicitation
prcmifed him from time to time ftis faction, but abufed him by delays ,
making htm for many years lofe both time, and expend much money in
waiting on them to my knowledge • but neVtr received farthing from
them.
1 do further tefiifie, upon the Terufall efMr. Violets Tapers 5 mi
the Confeffwn of feVeral of his Neighbours, who knew him before the
Year 1 6 4 3 . that 1 do efiem his Loffts to be far above eleven thoufand
pounds fince 1643. hfi&s his Imprifonment^ and loffe of his Calling,
to his damage at this time above twenty thoufand pounds. In witneffe
thereof! have hereto fubferibed my Hand,
Fi WILL, DU-GARD,
(4*)
The fame is in Ejfcci .ertifi d by feVeral other Genlkmen^wlofe
Names arefubfcribed i viz
Alexander Holt of London, GoUfmhb.
William Bourne of London, 'Brewer.
PiUL. Smith \ c . - ,
t, T7 (V London Ceitlemen
R bert Emery -> '
Wi:neflcs,
d.7 < William Barnes
{Jofiab Smith. ? \fchn Wigcwo
Paul Edwards. $ l Henry Gcldjl,.
^Knight ej Freeman. ]
A true CoppyoF Doctor Walkers repor; conc\r,
nin^; the Silver Ships the i^h of Aprill \6 \.
rT<B O LVV E R C 11 OMW EX S CouictL
jtf«*f it fie a.fe year Honour s^ ' .
IN the bufiiefs concerning the Ships and Silver goods in the three
Ships in the Samfon : Salvador , and S. C^r^ upon -aittr.dipg your
Lordfhips, wither. Violet* fever.ill particular were propofed 5 and
I was di eclcdbv your Honours fummarily, to Hare them, and to give
my humble opinion upon every of them.
The particular s were,
I. Concerning the Silver inthefc three Ship;, which was the bulk of
the whole matcer Upon which I argued, when I procured thcCxKspro-
b*ndi to be caft on the orh^r nVe.
Mr. Violet devided it t us, tb-it there was one Bofchardx H imburger ,
and one Stephen de B alder es s nnd one Lewis Ftrdw&ndes Huge/9, and one
Lofd Btro;-:a 5 and- one Mexico tier era, and one Michadl Sever wo Loz>enfo
deEucle • an J one Them as lave fas, de Unfe Arithvi-o dc Vmtho Spm-
trds, end one Devi Martin Native of Gdlhw.y 'in IreUn^ that laid
particular claims every of rhem., to fbme parcels of the Silver lae'eh for
thsiraccornpts ail whom i'asM, Violet Stated it came along in the faid
Ships and have attended their chim: lure eve; fir.ee upon the place, in
makhcrtheir proofs and Poindings - tor bringing ir on to a hearing for
their particulars and arc as Mr. Violet (tares rvbV their long ftrtndaflce
ar.dfpendiag in diet and otherwifc reduced t6 fuch exfemity as they
~or want are ready to ftarve. For
f43j
For thefcMr. Violet^ hath propo.'ed tnat hisHighnefs and yonr Lord,
fliips would direct that their claims would come on to a prcfent hear*
ing; that fo what was found to ,bc juftly and really theirs might be ad-
judged them : not onely for their prcfent relief, but for the vindicating
(a&Mr.rttkt terms it)thcjufticeof the Nation, and preventing any
Imb3rgOes abroad for want of juftice here.
Now for this my Lords being as I conccivcyathcr the prudential part
then the legal, I muft not take upon me to give any opinion ink, but
fubmit it wholly to your Lordfhipstoconfidtr the prudence of it, whe-
the* you will hold it fie that thefe particulars (hall come on before the
reft of :he claims •, for the other Silver in the faid Ships and fo to handle
by pieces, or whether to have all the Silver directed by tryall and hear,
ing altogether.
For the reft being the great bulks of the Silver, Mr. Violet propofed
that pleas mould be put in,to be a ground for Commiflioners to be pro-
cured to go into Spain and Flanders to examine witneiies there* againft
the fevf ral cUimers, and their claims fuppofing that in refpeel the Laws
of Spain prohibit the carrying out of Silver under great penalties, the
c'aymors woulu not dare to own it in Spain, ifCommiflioncrsforhis
Highncfs, (hou'd be fent over thither and that much difcovcries would
there be made, and wit a tiles be found in Spanii active perfons b: Itxia
ployed and fent over thither.
Mr. Viflei propofed that there would be this farther ufc made of it,by
procraftinatingthc bnlinefles,and gaining of folong time as for Corn-
raiffions to go into 5/u/»,and be executed there and returned.
As to the iaft of thefe it is evident that it muft of neceflity gain time,
and delay the heating.
But whether upon the main matter, it will produce any thing or
countervail the charge, which muft needs iftue out of purfe and cannot
but be vaft in executing fomany ComrnirTions by the Magistrates of
Spain, and imp'oy in? fucb as muft necetfarily, be fent over to look af-
ter it, I have often told Mr. Violet, that I much doubr and muft fubmit
it to your [ ordfhips, not daring of my felf to venture upon it j without a
fpecial warrantor feveral rcalons.
i . For that we yet know of never a particular witnefs by name to ex-
amine wrrn we came thither.
2 .And for that ii- wili be uncertain whether after fo great acharg fpcnr
to make inquiry there, any pofitive witriefles would be there or nor.
3. lfany there fhall be found it wll be uncertain whether upon the
F 3 claimors
(44)
claymors crofs interogatorics they may not fay more againft us, then
upon ours for us, being there in a Countrcy where the claymors will
in all likelihood finde more means, friends and opportunities, then thofe
that (hall be fenr over from hence againft them,
4. For that the claymors have already upon their own Ccramifli-
ons, owned their claim? in Spain, and examined wimeitcs by the
Magiftrates pubikkly there upon ; and therfcre no doubt, but they may
again publickly avow them at ours, if any new Comraimons go from
hence tor hU Highnefs : a* well as they did upon their own claims when
Coramiflions iflucd to Spain t for them which they have procured to be
there foeeded and returned back again hither into Court.
And therefore what your Lordmips propolcd to me as firft in ex-
pedient, that is, to endeavour that publication for the claimors might fo
pafs, that liberty might be given to fee their proofs, and yet if occafion
were to plead and examine witne(Tes nxwithftanding, which Albeit,
the rule be that contrary matter may not be examined upon after pub-
lication and fight of the witnefics; yet in thofecafes of the Silver in the
faid three Ships, I have fince I waited upon your Lordmips, upon de-
bates with the adverfe Proctors and Councels publickly in Court pro- .
cured fuch a SmIvo by their confents to be cntred and publication is fo
paftthat nowthecfefpofitionsand proofs for the claimors may be per-
ufed, and yet liberty to plead and examine for his Highnefs (if there
be occafion } not withftandrng- but there being fo many Commiffions
returned forthe claimors, and the depofitions fo extream long, It will
ask a good time to purufe and confider them.
As to thercftofthe goods in thofe Ships, riot being Silver, many of
them, being much decayed and perifhed by fo long lying, and fome of
them having been heard already and for whatremaines, I fee no reafon
at all to put off the hearing of them any longer? for that the main charge
fufpicionsand grounds were againft the Silver : ?nd had not ( as I hum-
• My conceive) any fuch reflex upon the Tobaccoes, Hides, andothet
! goodsj& befides fuch fpecial provifions may be made(as hath alfo been
J already done in what hath been heard ) that they may have no manner
of confequence at all,as to any of the Silver.
And as to the Ships themfcives, w. The S*mpfo», Salvor, and
St. Gesrgt, for as much as the publick Agent for Hamborongb hath
often prelTed it,tha< they might be permitted to come to hearing, & lot
that by this long lying, one of the faid Ship s hath been already funk in
the River 5 and that if the faidShipsfhould be continued much longer
without
(45 J
without repairing and imploymcnr, u is publicity (anihath been of- J*;^ D .f ft c £
ten) affirmed in Court, that thcywill decay, perifh and come to nothing. *« yon or o"
I do humbly conceive fubmitting it neverthelcfs to your Lordfhipsf rw " rf/ had
that for the avoiding of further perifhingof thefaid Snips, and other whTgroTd"
lading (not being Silver) and for avoiding claimour and fcandal in de- or r«fons i
lay or jufticc, The faid Ships, and remainder of the lading (except the Jj" J i J„ f j}'"
Silver j may if your Lordfhips pleife, be permitted to come to a hear- froSs "Fif-
ing and judgement. Ad of J ? dge
As for Mr. Violet himfclf, I can onely fay t'wr. by fcvcrall Orders of W0 SJ"h? Te
the former Counccll of State ; he was dire&cu to follicite and look after p^d m« as you
thisbufwefle of the Silver Ships,and that he hath often attended and ^^'^
fpoken in Courr,and many times repaired to me, and confulted about curing forth:
ir- and chat it hath appeared to me (and may alfo to your Lordfhips by Kmg. i was
pcrufing what he hath printed) he hath fpent much time about it, and I t ^J g ne of °
verily brlicvc hath drawn much envy upon him(clf,and run fomc ha* you by federal
zird and danger and fpent his own monies in going up and down to ^ d c $ K ^
make his enquiries. But I cannot determine what the produce or effect remrmbred
thereof will be, or amount unto untill fome particular and pofuive ho y y° u fcr -
proofs be brought ia to prove the silver, or at lead fomc part thereof ft e er Sop 1 *"
really and truelyto belong to fome Hollanders^ ipcdiyln^ their names, Williams in the
and the parcclls, and difcovering the fraud, in colouring it in other SJEftJf'
feign :d ram ;s. *>w«e cjwi-
Foras 1 have humbly declared unto your Lordfhips, for as much as ^ f/nor the
the Onus probanii is by Law caft upon the claimors. The refalt is, that woaidnewr
for fo much as the claimors (hall not pofitively and certainly make ipe- gWe neee any
ciall and particular proofs of .• there the judgement will be for confif- J^" 8 '^"^ 6 "
cation in default of their proof, in refpect of the Qwus Vrobandi fo caft. would be ad-
But for fo much as the claimors (ball make,& have made pofirive par- v | fed b y mc &
ticular &: concluded proofs,or their real property .There I humbly con- Sing™ after
ceive unlefs more p. oofs bebroughtin, then yet arc, or that Mr. Vioht they bad rot.
can bring in certain and particular proofs, to encounter the other ^[^e^*-
thai" '%* -X.norei ^"'^ -iroiv-nwc wmU t>#«f no w i t x^^y-*^ rX -
(4^;
By Command from King CHARLES theFirft, of blefled Memory, as ap-
pears by Warrant under his Royal Hand and Scat, I caufed thefe men following to
be lined in the Star-Chamber, for transporting Gold nd Silver, a d cull ng and
melting down the heavie Coine of the Nation.
The Z$rh. of Ian. 12. Car. Th ijth. ofFebr. 12 Car:
Charles Frank. 4000 1. ' At - 1 Hem 2 ceo 1
Robert Ellis 4000I. JohnTere 2000 1.
Jfaac Romeer 3000 1. Timothie Eman 200c 1.
Jacob Delerv locol. faa. Brames J cool
Roger Flet.her ioool. ' Henry Futter 50.6 1!
Richard Cockram ioool. . Henry Sweeting 500 1.
John Parr at ioool. j John P rrin icol.
The Total of the {aid Fines amount to the famine of 23 icol.
This Sentence awed the Tranfporters of Gold, till thefe Troubles, thcydurft
not tranfportGold or ^ilver^or fear I fhould meet with them.
Sir John fVotfalon Knight, and fFiUiap* dbs Efquire, both Aldermen of the
Chy of Loudon, beinginformed againft in this Information, by the then Attur-
'ney-General, procured a Pardon from your Ma jefties Royal Father, and fo were
difharged. Thefe two villains betrayed your Royal Father. 1643. Asaforefaid.
And Mr. Peter Fountain, who was informed againft for Tranfportirg of Gold
by me, procured his Pardon upon paiment of 1 100 J. to the Lord of it. Alban's
then Matter Jermyn. And all thefe I did bring to a Trial, at my own charge.
That befides the fourteen offend ers fentenced iu the Star-Chamber, ancTpar-
doned, as aforefaid, there are many other Merchants, Gold- fmiths,' and others
that have tranfported Gold and Silver out of the Nation.
Die Mcrcurii 1 i'ept. 1647.
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament Affembled, That it be referred to
the Committee of the Navie to con fider of, and take feme effectual courfe to
prevent the Transportation of Bullion out of the Kingdom : andfpecdily tj> re-
fort what they have done herein, to the Houfe.
H. Eifing. Cler. Pari,
May it pleafe your Majefty , ro perufe your Royal Fathers
letter, which I have printed in this book, folio 14, wherein his
late Majefty of glorious memory, comnnnds me that I mould eotdif-
cover the tranfpotters of Gold and Silver to the Parliament, without his
Majefties efpecial licence. His Majcfty knew the fines and compofici-
on of the offenders would bring the Parliament in great fnms of mo-
ney, which they would then imploy againft him , being then upon the
pointtocall the S«#£ then t0 invadcthc Kingdom of England, deftroy
his Majefty,and the Royal party.
At the fame rime I had in thQ Parliament my Patent under examinatt-
on in the Koufeof Commons } foran Office I have for two lives, ua-
der your Royal Fathers great Seal of England, for the cflfaying and feal-
ing all Gold and Silver Wire,and £ilver,and Gold Thrid, and to war-
rant the fame to the Weaicrs, that it be good Silver, and a due
proportion o( Silver to Silk. This Patent was commanded by SkRs-
bertHArlow^ being Chair man to a Commttee, to be brought into the
Houfe and referred to a Committee, who after fevcral daics hearing re-
ferred all parties to the Law, concerning the regulation of Gold and
Silver wier.
And I juft ified my Patent to be for the good of the Kingdom in gene-
ral, and that it faved fifty thoufand pounds a year by my faid office,
and by my regulation and tying the workmen to work good Silver, and
a due proportion of Silver to Silk j 'and this f humbly fay at this day to
be true, as I will prove it at the Council fo r Trade.
There was a Committee appointed , and Pim i Hamden, Whittaker,
Cfrbet, &cxo article with me for to difcovcr the tranfpotters of Gold
and Silver, and if I would do that, and rai r e the Parliament monies by
the fines of the offenders, then I was by their procurement that the com-
mittee of Parliament mould report the legaicy and juftice of myaforc£
faid Patent and Office ^ and it mould have been confirmed by Parlia-
ment, but fit ft I was to raifc 1 he Parliament fourty thoufand pounds by
the fines of thr tranfporters of Gold.
This agreement was made beewcen the Committee of Parliament
and me, inthe Co rt of Wards , about the 10th. of November 1643.
and I prepared to make my difcovery accordingly. Bit then, may
it pleafe your Mjjeftic , comes your Majefties FathersLetter, of blefled
memorie, ani commands me not to do this fervicc for the Parliament
at my perils / have it to mew under his -Majefties hand and Seal.There-
upon prefently /obeyed his SacrcdLettcr,and chofe Poverty and Loy-
G alty
alty before Riches, and to be a Rebel for my Loyalty l have been moft
Barbaroufly ufed.
I told the Committee, that upon enquiry after thebufinefs, I found
the French and Butch Merchants , and (trargers , that had tranfpor-
tcd the Gold and fiivcr out of the Nation , were icmovcd honi Do-
ver, and I could sot for the prefent do them that fervice I had promifed
them.
Whereupon Whittaher and Corbet took that but for a flam, and faid,
I was your Majefties Royal Fathers Spie, a Cavalier, and a Maligna,
and moved the Houie againft me, and they lent me to the Kings-
bench; and there I remained a Prifoner, till I made an exchange for
Mr. Hsfltrig, then Prifoner at Beaver Caftle 1643. in December.
In 5P^*»^> after his late Ma/eflic had exchanged me, prefemty he
commands me to bring up the Letter aforefaid, from his lare Majefly to"
the Citizens of London^ which I did., and the bat bare us abuies which I
received from Gitic and Parliament, for bringing the fame up, lhave
humbly declared.
My humble requeft unto your J/aiefiy is, that you would be pleafed to obfervc,
all my fuffering is only for my loyalty to your ^/aiefties Roya! Father, would J
have obeyed the P arliament, and difcoveredthe Tranfporters of Gold at that
time,i643. lhadinioyed all my eftate, and been fetledin the Office which I have
for two Lives for the regulating Gold and Silver Thred and Wyer.
And all this damage I fuffered for obeying your Afaiefti-es Royal Fathers com-
mand , to my damage at this day above twent y thoufand pounds : My moft hum-
ble Petition to your Majefly is, Th^t feeing I was opprefied and traduced by the
tyranny of Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Arthur Hafdrig, and Mr. Jr. John, they
being the principal A dors that ruined me, that I may have by your !V a;'efties
goodnefs, bounty, and mercy, allotted out of Sir Arthur Hafelrigs, and Sir Hen-
ry Vanes eftatesfuchfatisfaetion and reparation as your Majefty in your Roy-
al wifdom (hall think fitandjuft for my fupport, after fo fad an oppfeflion for
my loyalty to your Royal Father, the petition to the Parliament, and my charge
againft Vane, St. John, Hajlerig, was put into the Parliament before your Ma je-
fUes gracious Letter from Breda, the Lords in Parliament ordered me to refpite
my Petition to them, until yourMaiefties happy arrival into England, and ever
Jincel watched my opportunity to fhew what I have done and fuffered for your
Royal Father, and what I can and will do for Your Majefties Royal fervice, if you
pleafe to command me, I am at your fervice, as far as my life and eltate will go.
May
(49)
\ T AY it pleafc your Majefty, in the yea" 1636. your Afajefties Royal rathe*
I VI gave Alderman Wollafton, and Alderman Gibbs h\s Gracious pardon,
Sit Henry Mildmay, and the Company of Goldfmiths, charged Alderman Wd-
taftott for buying the Kings (tollenPlate,and Alderman Gibbs, {q<c refining and melt-
ing of Silver contrary to the Lawes, as will appear in the Records of the Councel-
Table, about Alarch 1635. Had not his Royal Majefty of bleffed memory
pardoned the then Lord Major Wollafion, the Law had kanged him before
ever he had come to have been Lord Major of London ■, and then he fhould
have prevented this Wollafton from be ng fuch a Traitor to his Majefty, trie
P overb faith, Save aThief from the gallows and he vtilihang thee : This VVdU-
fton proved a bloody enemy to the Kmg to h s dying day, and Gibbs as bad as he,
bu: is yet living.
I or as icon as ever I delivered his Ma jetties Meflage unto my Lord Major, he
teat for his fello-v Traitor Alderman Gibbs, and they ptefently concluded to make
Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Arthur Hcftrig, Mr Soliici or S t .J thn ,%rA Francis
ALn, acquainted with the Kings Letter, ,-ind ordered preientiy to apprehend
me, Sir Bafil Z/rc^and Mr. Ri'y to feizeupon our Efcates and fequeher us :
And lb prefently I was that night apprehended, and for four years fo ufed, that
never any man that brought up a Letter from any King of England to London, for
a Peace, was fo barbaroufly and cruelly ufed, that Evening the aforefaid perfons
and fome others examined me, they carried me to Goldfmiths Hall, they fent for
Sir Bafil Brooke and Mr Rily-, and St. John the Kings Sollicitor caufed all our
Pockets to be fearched, and :o:md their Letters in Sir Bafil Brook* and Ri/ics, but
none in mine, and as Sir Btfil ^rc^prefentedhim with the Kings Letter, which
I brought up from Oxford; St. fohn asked Sir Bafil Broik^ for another Letter,
which the Kings Majefty had fent up, the day before I went to Oxford to prefTe
Rily and his party, to ad their bufinefsas foonas they could, with a Letter from
my Lord George Digby, which the Officers found about Sir Bafil Brook. Touch-
ing this bufinefs when they had thefe Letters, St. Johns, Vane, Hafelrig,Ur. Allen,
Lord Major Wollafton, and Alderman Gibbs, and feveral others, made themfelves
very merry with them. There was Mr. Jackson the Effay-Ma:ler of Goldfmiths
Hall, a very honeft man, and one that faved my life at that time, in difcovering to
me what was cor.iefTed by Rily, that he had not difcovered any thing, ar.dthac
the aforefaid Commictee were refolved to face me down Rihe had confeffed all,
and fo would hive me to difcover, and I fhould have mercie.
They found in Mr. Rilies pockets Reads two Letters aforefaid, and threatned
him to have him racked, if he would not difcover the bottom of the bufinefle,
and who they were in the Citie, that plotted to oppofe the Scots coming in.
But there was an Oath of Secrecy amongft them all, and Rilis knew them all,
bit 1 was not privy ro the number that was but only to ad with Sir Bafil Bro.k.,
Read, and at Oxford with his Majeftie, the Queens Majeftie, the Dutchefs of Bf*c-
kingkam- and Lord Digby, and to bring the Kings Letter from Oxford.
Had Rily but co.ifefTcd thofe Gentlemen in London that wete privic wich him
G 2 in
(50)
m this bufinefs he had made many fcore oi men in the City of London, lofe
their Lives and Eftates.
And had the Lord Major VVollafton concealed the bufinefs twenty four
hours, it had been out of his power to have flopped this defign for peace: Kis
late Majefty of blefTed memory to'd me at Oxford, That Rily had fent him down
by one that came purpofely to Read from London^. Lift of above two hundred of
the principal men that had ingaged in this bufnefV, every man upon an Oath
oi fecrefie: The late King commanded me to tell Mr. Rilie Scoutmafter-gene-
ral of the City, that he fhould follow his former Dire&ions, which was to be
careful whom he imparted this bufinefs to, and to treat with them feverally, and
uot together, for all their fecurity depended thereon, that it did concern all our
Lives and Eftates tobecircumfpect : We had former Prefidents to make us wa-
ry, Tomkins and Challemr and others, and though he was careful of all his Sub-
jects, yet ofthofe that were moft forward to fervehim, he was molt tender tha:
they fhould venture themfelves, telling me he 6 id know more of this d efign then
I did, byGods blefling it will take faith his M^ jeftie,! have laid it fo with Mr Rilj t
thatlamaffuredofahappyfuccefs, go thy way,! will make thee a man, and teli
my Lord Major, and Mr. Rilie,\ will make them famous forever. Rily was by all
parties trufted to carry on this defign, asd had not the fins of the Nation pre-
vented us of fuc ha mercy ( for it was not Gods time) for our deliverance, there
was never in all thefe troubles adefign for putting an end to the War without
bl©od{hed,fo laid and contrived as Sir Baft I Brcok^ Col. Reed, Mr. Rily, had laid
every man his part feverally i and fo fecretly, that though the principal men in
the City were ingaged in the bufinefs to make the City of London to declare for
the King, and to oppofe the Scots invading of England, and the Cities Declara-
tion which they intended to publifh-,1 brought it to hisMajefty my felf 1643. and re-
ceived my Orders and Directions thereupon my felf from his Majefty, and the
Queens moft excellent Majefty, the Dutchefs of Buckingham, and the Lortl Georgs
T)igby his Majefties Secretary and Coll.i?<?^ ; were only privie to this bufinefiej to
my knowledge,at the Conrt,and no other.
Two Letters of Col. Tread's, fent to Mr. Theo-
philus (%tiy, Scout mafter of the City of London 5 from Oxford^
toincourage the Cornrnon-Counccl of the Ciry of Lnndon,
to Petition his late Majefty for Peace; and to confer the {ad Effects
that wouJd follow, upon the Scots invading England. Jan. 1643.
SlK\
IWrotetoyouformerly^but MVer had anydafwerjajfure you faith*
fuHy 1 have not been Wanting to do whit you de fired (as you may
perceiv by the tffetts)&ifymbaye not ) our defere, blame your felf^
and
( 5 1 )
and give me leave to tell you t that if you negkcl the opportunity now of- moft eK-'
fered td you, it may foyw p?all mVer have the like again- for I haVe 1 ^^^^
thofe whom you have given juft occafion to be your worfl f fiends j^ bei °f {J" 1
} } a>id the only infti uments to Procure what here isfentyoujord, byorder
and be you confident jhet fh a 11 fill be /o, provided you do your part^ cm* faneottab
fider Ibeftech pu^ ivb.it a zip is opened by bringing in of the Scots ^ a j r c ft? es UJ JJ£
for the deflruciion of this IQngdom, if there be not a T'eace (which k" Dei : ^
pray God Almightie to fen I fp< eddy) you mujl expeel Armies of Strang* naoft eamefHy
en from federal VLiceSj who aye now prepari »g 9 who certainly at thehr^city o°e
coming in will over-run the whole Kjngdom^and when it is pafl remedy , JjJkeJjl?
you will fee your own Errors, and therefore to prevent more mifery then °P 0fl "PfJ
/ km able to exprejfe to this deplorable t\ingdt>m ) and the effujaon of the th«e the beft
b'oud of thdtifinds ofmen,wamen 9 anlchildren y which mujl inevitably]^ o°- a ny "
be this Summer} apply your felves in an bumble a-id fubmffive way frfi^l^jjj
hit Mai -/lie, whom Iknow you 'frill finde ready with Arms out* fir etch- b««ponthe
. JJ . ' c J J JT i .Queen replied,
eiro receive you tofvorand mercy, and grant you faVors^Ven wyond ymte n (hxi\
your expectation. Defer n) time (for God's fake) and what you *9 &&<£££
do^ do itjf>!cdily-l fy again ^do it fpeedilyjor reafons } I may not write. JJ^cJJ
Oxford Dec 4 1 f\i r >5o with a petj«-
or totrK King
. „ — . — . i ;. .. _ fhallbe well
accomodate! ,
and have a
fl Orations
Anfwcr to all
or the uity of London, J 8 ^ *^
Meffe them, &
r I d f God increafe
. -j- it*/ ; • r i i i r c ' ieir nunD ker,
IAfjureyou that I haVs not been wanting to further your good dept- and thereupon
res, and if it be not your o^n faults 1 1 make no doubt but things willlu^' ySepr,
have an happy ijfnefor Ifinde thofe that are mojl concern J in it, for- ShuTa"**
kerchief outof
■ hspocketjand
ill* teats flood in the ICirgseycs, which made bqthRead and I falls weeping, and thereupon the Queen
command I CoJ Sfddtolift up the Hi ging«,"to fee nVb'ndy Bob} behind; 'the Hanging* to hear what fhee
fiM 4 , which Read did, and when-iheQuecnfcenoboJybehincUt.be Hangings; Ahfw&ffaid (he the King
in a mjft fai condition, wc have Traytors about us, that warch a! 1 our Words and ftflions, we
fjeak nothing, hor do nothing, but it is Cc': up-o the Parliament, an i th<y in cpret it in the worft Sthce :
The Queens Majefly it that time was very il!,anci iookt ve:y ca c uliy, and was nothing but Skin and Bones.
Godbctrunkfd for the bltffed change that is here at this day, the Kings Ma;cfty her Si.n, in the Throne of
h 5 Xoy.il Fa fcer,and King ofrhs hearts of h ; s People; thtfetwo Papers was fcind in Ri'ies pockets, and
e.i by Older of Pailiarr.ert, and Col. KM</\h.iged to be a JeCbite, I amfute ofk tbefe Papers TJikes
le Proph>t,I favedKu&'.ife in gett;ng hiuj ochanged of cbc G:ncra! Eficx by a urongname.
G 3 ivard
Col. "Read's Paper to Mr- T^lie, Sccutmafter^^
ward enough. <%efleEt now upvi the miferie of the timet y and upon the
groans and fuffering* of thofe you fee not,V?hicbyet have ken nothing to
what they will he, if not fpedily prevented by a Texe; which to obtain
Ibefeuhyou, let it not only be your owt ca>'e } but the care of all thofe
you love, or have piwer with ptherwije be confident of aptneral/ruine
which certainly will be inevitable both toyourfelves and poflcrii*- and
therefore take it into your ferioM confideration; and let no cdufltfs jea*
louftes hinder you to apply yow fehzs in an humble midfukmijfivt man-
ner to his Majeftie, who I am fare wdlyet look upon you with a &'atms
eie ; loft m time y for the longer you delay, it may proVe the more dsffi*
cult } no doubt.
This laft Letter I Tho.Vlok: delivered from Read at Oxford
to Mr. Rilieia London Decerb.20.i64:>.
This ColL Read I got exchanged by a wrong na?ne, for a private
Souldier, at the intreatie of Sir Bjfil Brook, who told me I fhoulddo
a Very good ferYice fhr his Majejlie, and the Queens Majeftie, to get
Read to be dij charged, but that mufl be done by a wrong name, or elfe
faid Sir BafilBrook thenar liament would never admit of his exchange
I did ejfetl it, andfent this QAl Rea : to the H\ing at Oxford, upon
condition he would returne to Mr. Rilie the Scout- mafler of I ondon
how he found his Majejlie inclined to receive a Petition from the Qty of
London for peace, that they Veould declare thrmfelves for a peace, and
Petition his Majefitefor a ceffation of -Ai ms^ and an accommodation be*
tween the late K^ingof Glorious memory, Jndl Tha^Vioktwa^fent
down to Oxford Dccemb.19 5^43 to bring up his Majefies Gratis
Ms Letter^ the Copie of the Citie of 'London* defire^ being Jent to his
Ute Majefte } wherein they defied upon the Copie I brought to Oxfird,
to
to have his NajeJliedireEledhis Litter to the Militia of "London jbut
his late MajeHie would not oKn the Militia, to treat with them m the
Militia of the Qtk t becaufe his Majeftie told me at Oxford they wen
not impowredby his Commffionjand he would not own them: I told his
late Majeftie y and the Lord Digbie, it was contrary to my inftrutli*
ens which I received from Mr. Ri I ie, to alter thejuperfcription of His
M ajeflies Letter ^utfeeingHisMajeflie wouldnot but diretl hisLetter, •
To our Lord Mayor } and Aldermen of our City of Lcndon^nd
all other our w.ll afTe&ed Sub/eels of that our Citie. 2" would
venture my life to bring up this Letter to London ^and going according
to my injlrutlionf I received from his tAaieftie, to acquaint Wolla-
fton then Lord Mayor ofLondon^nd JldermanG\bb$,they caujed
mefome feft houres after IwMgonfrom them, to be apprehended upon
a Qharge of High Treafon.
MAy it pUafc your Afajefty to perufe this enfuing Narrative, viz. in
Sept. 1657,1 being fak lent to Braajhanr ro write to the preten-
ded Protector Cromwel I, th t if he would not pay me the ele-
ven thoufand pounds hepromifed me, to pay mc fome considerable
Cum for my fupport. Braafkaw at that time wrote to Crowrvellvtty ear-
neftly to pay me a confiderable fum in part, ufin£ this as his argument,
and telling Mr Beck {Cromvcls SolicitourJ Mr ThoMervet^ and Mr Tarn
my Chirurgeon (who were all three by when Bradfiaw wrote to the
pretended Protector about me} Bradfraw faid, Remember my fcrvke
to my Lord /Wector, and defire him in my name to pay Violet a confi-
derable part cf his money for his fupport,according to his quality •, my
Lord Protector krowes not Violet lowell as I do: If the manfliouid
go to charls Stuart, he would do us more mifchicf than a hundred
thoufand pounds would do us good / there are (bme Kings would give
an hundred thoufand pounds for to have fuch an Engine for their turn,
nndthey knew him as well as I do. This mefTage was fent to Cromrvel
from Br^MjvbyMr Beck the Protectors Solicitour- Mr Hewet , Mr
Yates, and thefe Gentlemen are all in London to juftifie this to be true.
M; Beck upon this meflagc moved Mr Francis Bacon, the mailer of
the Request, to move Cremml the Protector effectually about me, and
he
(54;
he would alfo move him •, which they did, and they both fold mee
when my name was bur mentioned for my money I petitioned for,
Cromtoel was fo incenfed againft me,that he btftowed all the bad words
in the world, and faid, that he took me to be a dangerous pcrfoo, and an
ArrantViUain againft him-, and,in a word (faith Mr Bacon and MrB«X')
he takes thee to be an Arrant Knave. They often asked me if I could i -
magine the reafon that the Protc<5tor,and fomcof his Council, was fo
bitter againft me, that they never heard man have a worfe character
than Crcmwel did give me,andfomeof his Council that were intimate
with himy-as Thurioe, &c. I replyed, I received good Forevil, the Pro-
lectors payment to me is not currant to revile tee for venturing my life
in his (ervice,and laying out of mypuriei5 0ol. toget him 2782 50 1.
fo much money Baxter paid him clear for the filver I ftaid him in the
{hips S aw f fin, Salvador and St George, as will appear by an Ordinance
of Parliament for Baxters difchargefor the paymentof that money.
I knew Cromwcls reafon, but would not tell it to them. For I found
(when it was too late,) he knew he had undone himfelf, by feizing on
this Silver and breaking up the Parliament '5 and that I was the fatal In-
ftrument that advifed him to take the Silver into his own cuftody , cither
under the Ban queuing houfe to lodg it, or in the Tower. He did be -
licve I did it innocently and for his good t, for had he believed I had
donclastrulyIdid)malitioufl^todeftroy him, he would havecaufed
me to have been torn in pieces.
Mr Strickland asked one Capt. Swan, a Gentleman of Kent, an inti-
mate friend of mine, what he thought I was, and whether I was not a
Gavaleer; Strickland telling Captain Swan, Many of us of the Coun-
cil of State take Violet to be a fly and dangerous fellow, he is ai waves
prefenting Proportions unto us which may bear double interpretati-
ons 5 he pretends for the Councils proiir, but Iamfurcit is for their
danger - 7 he hath ftaid Three hundred thoufand pounds in Silvcr,?nd
hath let us together by the ears ?.mongft our felvcs, and with Holland :
Cromwel and Bradjbaw makes ulc of him, promising him from day to
day to give him his Eftate, b':t they but abufe him,they will never give
him a fat thing. I heard Bradfiawfoy, 1 could wifh Violet had his Eftate .
or the value, but there is no trufting him therein. If he mould run to the
King of Scots., he would do us more mifchief than a hundred thoufand
pounds. Keep him poor, and that w ill keep him uoneft to us •• for if he
had his Eftate,he would be with the King of Scot;.
The
(55)
The King of France hath a (landing Councel
for to Regulate his Mints, and to hinder the
Tranfporting of Gold or Silver.
VVcrc the like Orders feded inEnglandjt would
ta for your Majefties fervice, and keep your
iViajefties A/inton work.
IN" an Ordinance and tkclaratm of the %ing of France, printed at
Paris, 30. Otfi$ 4 o 4 Fo/.8,9.
Wtexpre fly forbid, that all Materials of Gold or Silver ^either coinr
edor uncoine A, frail not be bought and /old at higher ^ates, then is ex-
preflyfet down in this Declaration , which doth declare the true value
that muft bepaitdfor the Mark of Sifter.
We exprefly forbid every one of what qualitie or condition foeVer ,to
Tranfport out of our kingdom any Gold or Silver joined or uncoined^
or any other Ooldfmiths work, uponpenaltie of forfeiture of the Mate-
rials and Merchandise, and other things therein they JhaSbe found to
be packed up in,befides the penalty of fiftie pounds , and bodily funifb*
ment.
H In
1
(56)
In an Ordinance and Placcart,
For the Regulating of the Mint; Publifhed in
"Brujjels thelaftday oiMay, 164.0.
ARTIC. XL
JJ/E have alfo forbidden, and forbid by the ft prtfents every one, of what quality or con-
dition foever, as well our Sub)e8s as others, 10 tranfport any Geld or Silver from
henceforth out of our hands, direQly or indirectly, ortocaufe the fame to be tranfforted,
Minted or unminted, without having obtained from us before hand exprejs leave and
confent to do the fame ^ upon penalty of forfeiture the Goidand Silver and BulLov , a ad to
fay befidestbe double worthy as alfo the Waggons tb at fhaS willingly have conveytd the
fmrte^he offenders to be baniftnd out of our land for five years, and the fecond time for ever,
Ordiaancc and Placcart at BruffcU the i8th. of March, 1 643.
ARTIC. LVll.
IXfEexPresly forbid any ferfon of what quality <fr condition Joevtr to, buy or fell any
Gold or Silver, either Bullion or currant, at a higher price then the Ordinance of
our [aid Mint pemittetb,upon penalty of the forfeiture of all Gold and Silver the fir ft time,
tie fesond four tim*s as much andfevtre corredm.
Placcart and Ordinance lot Flanders and Antwerp. 4080b. 1 585.
ARTIC. XV.
U/EforbH andinterdicl expresly that no one of what quality, or degree, or condition foe-
" ver, fhall tranfpirt or carry any Gold or Silver of our Coins or Bullion, melted or in
tnafs, nor any Gold or Silver to coin money, upon forfeiture of the j aid Gold and Silver,
befides two hundred Gold Rofe Nobles, for every Mark, of Gold, *nd twenty Golden Roft-
Voblesfor every Mark»f^ ver 3 atld tbe f econd time t0 be hMj f«nijbed.
ARTIC XIII.
ANiwe do expresly forbid all and every one henceforth to buy or fell any wares of Geld
0" or Silver money at above the price of the Mint; for profit or gdn, upon pain of the
leller
UV.CT to forfeit the fieces fold, and the buyer as much as the feller-, beftdes,f«r the firfi
time both buyer and feller to forfeit threejcore founds, and tie third time to be arbitrarily
fpttifrd.
Placart and Ordinances concerning the genera! courfe and rcgulatingof
the Mint and Monies, nsalfo concerning the Exchangers, Refiiers,
and Goldf miths, and others in the united Provinces, 1 646.
ARTIC.XI.
A Nd as for the Gold end Silver monej tcbefe value is rated by this Ordinance, we ex-
pre fs ly fo) bid every one tofrefent or fay, or receive the fame at higher rates then are
here ordered,ufon forfeiture of fucb money fo excb«nged,befides arbitrary funifhment.
ART1C.XV.
\yVE forbid every cne to cull any Cold or Silver mr.eys, to fort the weighty and good
▼ r,n, pom the light, for private end far titular frofit uf on fain of forfeiture, or to
bug any Silver for JVerk at higher rate then the Ordinance, uftn fain of forfeiture double
the value.
ART I C. XVII.
"yyEeexfrefsly forbid from henceforth totranffert or ccufe to be tranfforied out of our
above- faid Province towards any firange Mints, any Gold or Silver, Monies or
Mafs or Ingots, fit to coinmoney, ufon fain of Confifcation of the abovefaid money and
materials : And be fide the fenaity of I co golden Angelots uftn every mark, of Gold % and
20 jingelotsftr every rnarl^ of Silver, teftdesfor the feund tirr.e to fstffer bodily funifi-
ment.
ARTIC. XXII.
*y\7Ee forbid from henceforth evtry one to melt any Gold or other Moneys of her M"*
. yfiip of Englands (lam f, valued by thefe Frejents hfon fenaity of life and good's
asd tie monies that (hdl be light, Jbcll be trough I to the Exchange according to the cU
Cuslcme. If i/t Merchants fleafe the} ma) }ivd to An.fttrd. xv, mdhave all thefe Pro*
clamatiens, and there they will fee whether thefe Lews are not made according to the dates
here abovefaid, in Frarce, Flandcrj, Holland : 1 he whole buftnefs 1 humbly fubmit at
your Majejlies audycur Priviy Ouncelsftet, and humbly fray, 1 may ever live to fee this
Roy all Prerogative of giving leave to tranffort Gold and Silver to be only in the Power of
your Majeslie, andyour mo(i Honourable Privie Council, that the Merchants greatnejs
may be asaUandmaid toyour Sacred Mayfly, and at your command always:
PoR-
POSTSCRIPT
I Do defire the judicious Reader to pardon
the miftakesof the Prefs, and to mend them
with his Pen, and the diforder of fortingmy
Notes, being ftreightned in time, and fane to ufe
two Preffes for expedition, leaft the Merchants
ftiould have furprized his Majefty, and gotten
leave by A# of Parliament to Tranfport Gold
and Silver at their pleafure,to the damage of the
Kings Majefty,and his imperial Crown,and dig-
nity. Grant me this jy ft Reqaeft, to mend the
Errors with your Pen, and I mall be incouraged
to prcfentycu with that which will be advantage-
ous to all the Snghfh Merchants, which is,I do in-
tend to make an exa<5t pare, and calculation of all
the Gold and Silver Coins in Qbri/lendom, their
juft weights and finenefs, and what they will
make, being full weight in his Afajefties Mint in
the Tower of London, and all the Figures^ and
Coins, Arms, and Mottoes feverally Engraven ,
which will be a work^f charge,and pains,and will
be a guide to allMerchants, to know all Forreign
Coins of Gold andSilver in Chriflendom^s well as
our currant Coin of the Kingdom of England.
FINIS.
sm
H
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